Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 59

59: The Dark Hall

The Yu Kingdom’s envoy had come for two main purposes: first, to visit the severely injured Jiang Ci on behalf of the Yu Kingdom, and second—and most importantly—for the sake of Prince Duan.

Given the urgency of the situation, the Yu Kingdom delegation declined the banquet and went straight to the point, discussing rescue strategies with the Liang Kingdom.

The next day, Jiang Ci and Helian Ping were summoned to the palace.

They had just learned about the incident involving Prince Duan. It turned out that on the same day Xi Lingxue had pursued them, the bandits had doubled back and, amidst the chaos, kidnapped Prince Duan, fleeing into Liang territory.

The whereabouts of the bandits remained unknown, and they had yet to make any demands of the court.

Jiang Ci couldn’t understand why the bandits would kidnap Prince Duan. It would only escalate tensions and bring no benefit to them. Both the Yu and Liang Kingdoms would now be after them, leading to their inevitable downfall.

For this palace visit, Jiang Ci was still in a wheelchair. Helian Ping, having learned her lesson, had arranged for an attendant to push the wheelchair until they reached the main hall, where she took over.

Throughout the journey, Jiang Ci remained silent, playing the part of the injured and frail, looking convincingly vulnerable.

Helian Ping, of course, knew what was on her mind. Despite Jiang Ci’s outward insistence on leaving and cutting ties with her past, the mention of the “Yu Kingdom envoy” had clearly unsettled her.

Helian Ping leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Hey, do you think Xi Lingxue will come with the envoy?”

In Helian Ping’s view, Xi Lingxue had been deeply hurt by what happened at the border. Otherwise, why would she have let go at the last moment?

If it were her, after chasing someone all the way from the capital to the border, she would have dragged them back no matter what.

As for Xi Lingxue, since she had chosen to let go, she had probably given up on Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci frowned and shook her head, “I don’t know.”

She hoped Xi Lingxue wouldn’t come.

The environment in Liang was harsh and barbaric, something Jiang Ci had experienced firsthand. She didn’t want Xi Lingxue to take such a risk.

But she had a feeling…

Helian Ping said, “I don’t think she will.”

When the two arrived, the civil and military officials were already in their places in the grand hall.

The Grand Priestess, Long Yin, stood silently to the side. Though her figure was slender, she exuded a mysterious and imposing aura. With just a fleeting glance, Jiang Ci felt immense pressure.

So far, Jiang Ci hadn’t had the chance to approach her and thus hadn’t revealed their master-disciple relationship.

The Yu Kingdom envoys stood at the front, five in total.

Helian Ping quickly scanned them. Based on their pheromones, she could tell that all five were Qianjun.

The Eldest Princess was not among them.

Helian Ping thought that if Xi Lingxue had personally come to Liang, it would be truly reckless.

Jiang Ci, sitting in her wheelchair, found her gaze drawn to the woman in the center.

Though her appearance was ordinary, her demeanor set her apart from the other four. Her every movement exuded a cold, noble air.

Gender and appearance could be easily disguised, but temperament was harder to fake.

Jiang Ci was almost certain that this envoy was Xi Lingxue.

Sure enough, when the woman heard the commotion and turned around, her first reaction was to look at Jiang Ci’s legs. Her gaze froze, and she seemed momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until a colleague reminded her that she regained her composure and remembered to bow.

“Lord Jiang,” the woman took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice, “We have brought the finest medicinal herbs from the Yu Kingdom on the orders of the Empress. Please take care of yourself.”

She emphasized the last four words.

Jiang Ci pursed her lips, forcing a smile, “Thank you… Please convey my gratitude to the Empress…”

She thought to herself, this is bad. Xi Lingxue must think her legs were broken.

Helian Ping stood behind Jiang Ci. Whether it was her imagination or not, the envoy in the center seemed to be holding back something. Despite her cold demeanor, her slightly reddened eyes betrayed her emotions.

…

The brief interlude quickly passed, and the Yu Kingdom envoy’s primary purpose was to discuss the rescue of Prince Duan.

The Yu Kingdom requested permission to send a troop to assist in tracking down Prince Duan’s whereabouts.

However, the Empress Dowager deemed this inappropriate.

After much back-and-forth, the Yu Kingdom envoy failed to get their way and had to stay in Liang, awaiting further news.

The discussion came to a temporary halt, and the Empress Dowager invited the envoy to dine.

Whether it was intentional or not, Jiang Ci found herself seated between Helian Ping and the Yu Kingdom envoy, right next to Xi Lingxue.

Jiang Ci, caught in the middle, felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Helian Ping was very attentive, fully immersed in her role. She even personally served Jiang Ci food.

“Here, A Ci, have some ribs,” Helian Ping leaned in close, her slender waist exposed, exuding charm, “You need to recover well. Once your legs are better, we’ll get married~”

As soon as she finished speaking, a cold laugh came from beside them.

Jiang Ci, holding her bowl, felt a chill emanating from her right side, half of her body going numb.

For the first time, she felt like she couldn’t keep up the act.

“Uh… okay, I’ll do my best, hehe…”

She didn’t dare eat the ribs.

Helian Ping glanced at her, her eyes questioning: What’s wrong? Why so reserved?

Jiang Ci felt a bit guilty. Who would have thought that just after establishing her “crippled but determined” persona as the prospective consort, she would run into Xi Lingxue the very next day?

This was bound to cause misunderstandings.

Xi Lingxue had come to Liang disguised as an envoy, under the alias Qin Shuang.

“Lord Qin,” Jiang Ci initiated the conversation, “The bandits who kidnapped Prince Duan must have their reasons. They won’t harm her easily. Prince Duan has always been fortunate in times of crisis. She’ll surely be fine this time as well.”

The woman remained silent for a moment before softly saying, “Lord Jiang should focus on taking care of yourself first.”

The people of Yu blindly admired Jiang Ci, praising her for single-handedly taking on eighteen men, a feat of unparalleled bravery. But when Xi Lingxue heard those descriptions, all she could think of were the bloody scenes, leaving her unable to sleep for several nights.

Upon hearing that Jiang Ci had suffered a broken arm, broken legs, and internal injuries, possibly confining her to a wheelchair for life, Xi Lingxue was filled with regret. She kept dreaming that if only she hadn’t let go that day, things might have been different.

Even if Jiang Ci hated her, at least she would be alive and well.

But there were no “ifs.”

Once Jiang Ci entered Liang, she was beyond Xi Lingxue’s control.

Xi Lingxue lowered her gaze, her heart tearing apart the more she thought about it, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Helian Ping glanced at her, feeling that this woman stood out from the rest, her aura dark and unsettling. She secretly nudged Jiang Ci, “The Qianjun next to you is really strange.”

Jiang Ci broke into a cold sweat, “You should talk less…”

At that moment, a servant came forward to pour wine.

Jiang Ci’s eyes swept over him, and she noticed something unusual about his hands.

Helian Ping was about to drink when Jiang Ci suddenly grabbed her arm, “Wait.”

The servant froze.

Helian Ping’s wine spilled onto her hand, and she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Ci narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the man before her, “Even the servants in Liang are skilled fighters, huh?”

The man had thick calluses on his hands, a sign that he was no ordinary person.

Her words shocked everyone, drawing their attention.

The first to react was the chief eunuch, Hong San, standing beside the Empress Dowager.

His eyes sharpened, and he immediately lunged forward.

The man, realizing his cover was blown, pulled out several knives from his robe and hurled them at the Empress Dowager.

“Assassins!”

And there was more than one.

As the man’s identity was revealed, six others jumped out, all disguised as servants.

Everyone scrambled to dodge, tables were overturned, and dishes and cups crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces. Screams and the clashing of weapons filled the air, plunging the scene into chaos.

Jiang Ci was pulled back by Helian Ping, while Xi Lingxue was shielded by the envoys as they retreated from the scene.

Soon, guards flooded in.

The assassins were highly skilled, but they were up against Hong San, Liang’s top fighter.

Standing alone in front of the Empress Dowager, he effortlessly blocked any attempts to approach her, even deflecting flying knives with his bare hands.

The assassins had no intention of leaving alive. They were already in a frenzy, not caring if they harmed anyone else.

Jiang Ci saw a small knife flying toward Xi Lingxue. In a panic, she broke free from Helian Ping and lunged forward.

Jiang Ci barely managed to shield Xi Lingxue when, with a “thud,” the knife embedded itself in her right arm, bl00d immediately staining the white bandages.

Her arm, already fractured, was now further injured.

Jiang Ci felt like crying.

“A Ci!”

Xi Lingxue hurriedly held her, her voice trembling.

Jiang Ci leaned into the familiar embrace, relieved to see that Xi Lingxue was unharmed, “I’m fine… The bandages are thick…”

“How can you be fine?!”

Xi Lingxue bit her lip, her eyes red as she tore a piece of cloth from her robe to stop the bleeding.

Helian Ping also rushed over, immediately stuffing a life-saving pill into Jiang Ci’s mouth.

In truth, Jiang Ci felt the knife hadn’t gone deep, and the bandages had done their job. But the two women looked as if she were on the verge of death.

“Uh… Ping, there’s no need for the life-saving pill. Just some wound ointment will do…”

“Alright… I’ll call the imperial doctor.”

With Hong San’s intervention, the seven assassins were quickly subdued.

Helian Ping glanced at the Qianjun named “Qin Shuang.” The woman held Jiang Ci, her eyes filled with tenderness and concern, as if they were about to overflow with emotion.

What’s with this Qianjun…

Could she be one of Jiang Ci’s admirers?

Helian Ping found it increasingly likely, given how popular Jiang Ci was in Yu, with matchmakers practically wearing out her doorstep.

Jiang Ci rested in Xi Lingxue’s arms. As she shifted slightly, a white jade token slipped from her robe and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

It was a token given to her by Mo Sanqi, a symbol of the Xiaoyao Sect.

Jiang Ci picked up the token and, as she looked up, her eyes met those of one of the assassins.

It was the man who had thrown the knife earlier.

His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as he stared at Jiang Ci. He seemed to want to say something but clenched his teeth and quickly looked away.

This exchange lasted only a couple of seconds, unnoticed by anyone else.

Jiang Ci’s heart raced. The man clearly recognized the token! But he hadn’t said anything!

She glanced at the other assassins, and the remaining six also seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

The more they avoided her, the more suspicious Jiang Ci became.

A terrifying thought crossed her mind: Did these assassins recognize the token?

Could they all be… members of the Xiaoyao Sect?!

“Another group of assassins from the Dark Hall.” the Empress Dowager sneered, then turned to Jiang Ci with approval, “Thanks to Jiang Ci’s quick detection this time, no casualties were incurred. I will reward you heavily!”

The Dark Hall…?

Jiang Ci snapped out of her thoughts, feeling a wave of panic.

Xi Lingxue noticed her unease and held her tighter, “Is the wound too painful? Hang in there, the imperial doctor will be here soon.”

“No,” Jiang Ci’s gaze was distant, “I think… I’ve made a mistake…”

The seven assassins were taken away by the guards and thrown into the death row.

In an unnoticed corner, Long Yin sighed deeply, gripping her staff tightly.