The Real Young Master Was Sold as a Slave, The Obsessive Crown Prince's Forced Love - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: The Hunt

After Qi Wang left, Song Yu lay on the bed, watching the words floating past.

[What is Qi Wang going to do tomorrow?]

[Originally, the Emperor wanted the Earl of Anping to assassinate Qi Wang, but the Earl of Anping was unwilling. Now that Madam Wang is dead and Song Shian is dead, is the Earl of Anping finally going to make a move?]

[Not necessarily. Song Shian died in Prince Yu’s courtyard. Although Qi Wang ordered the beating to death, the Emperor was the one who let Qi Wang make the decision. It’s hard to judge the Earl of Anping’s thoughts.]

[Why was the Earl of Anping unwilling to strike at the Crown Prince?]

[It’s hard to say, but what shocked me is that scumbag Gu Zhen is Prince Heshun’s person!]

Gu Zhen is Prince Heshun’s person?

Song Yu was so shocked he almost sat up again.

I need to tell Qi Wang.

But he quickly realized that Qi Wang’s scheme today might have been to lure the snake out of its hole.

[Gu Zhen should be quite important to Prince Heshun. Otherwise, Prince Heshun wouldn’t have rushed over so quickly when Gu Zhen was about to be beaten to death.]

[I always thought Prince Heshun was just into eating and drinking. Now it seems he’s not simple!]

[Indeed! Qi Wang still has strength!]

[Gu Zhen approaching the people of the Earl of Anping’s residence must have been Prince Heshun’s intention, right? Why?]

[It feels related to why the Earl of Anping was unwilling to assassinate Qi Wang.]

[What is Xiao Yu doing? Why is he staring at the ceiling with a serious expression?]

Song Yu: …

I’m clearly staring intensely at you guys!

[Is no one going to discuss what Qi Wang is going to do tomorrow?]

[It’s completely unpredictable! The plot has already gone off track, and Qi Wang is a madman. Who can guess!]

Song Yu had a vague suspicion in his heart.

Did Qi Wang’s setup today, which exposed Prince Heshun, only go this far?

I’m afraid—

Tomorrow, he will arrange a grand assassination or some kind of rebellion.

Qi Wang will be assassinated, and at the same time, the Emperor will also be assassinated.

As for the person who will assassinate the Emperor… it’s most likely related to Prince Heshun.

Ah!

It’s so complicated.

My head hurts from overthinking!

Whether it was the effect of the medicine or too much brain usage, Song Yu fell into a deep sleep soon after.

Song Yu slept soundly.

But some people couldn’t sleep a wink.

The Earl of Anping knelt in the courtyard, looking at Song Shian’s body that had been carried back and placed on the ground. His grief was so overwhelming that he couldn’t even weep aloud.

All that was left was his open mouth, emitting desperate, empty sounds of sorrow.

“Shian!!!”

The small eunuch who returned Song Shian’s body stood before the corpse, looking down at the Earl of Anping.

“Song Shian attempted to harm His Highness Prince Yu and was beaten to death by the Crown Prince.

“His Majesty is merciful. He ordered this servant to inform the Earl that if the task is completed, His Majesty will not hold the Earl responsible for Song Shian’s crime.

“If the task is not completed, harming a prince is a crime punishable by extermination of the nine generations.”

The Earl of Anping knelt on the ground, so consumed by grief that he couldn’t muster any strength to support his body.

He regretted it!

He shouldn’t have come to the capital!

In Qinghe County, though it was a desolate place, he was the Earl of Anping. He had his fief, his manor, his shops. Life was rich and comfortable.

He had a lovely son, a wife…

Why did he ever get the idea to come to the capital!

When he went to Qinghe County that year, he was clearly determined to swallow that secret and never utter it for the rest of his life! Why was he so blind as to want to use that secret to become a superior man who helped a future Emperor ascend!

Wasn’t Qinghe County good enough!

Far from the Emperor, it was clearly good enough!

Ah!!!!!!!!

Shian!

Father failed you!

Father harmed you!

Harmed you and your mother!

Crying until he was utterly exhausted, the Earl of Anping collapsed beside Song Shian’s corpse, his swollen eyes, seemingly drained of tears, gazing up at the dark canopy of the night sky.

The sky was gloomy, without a single star.

“Uncle.”

Just as the Earl of Anping was so distressed that he could barely breathe, Gu Zhen arrived.

He limped, his clothes still stained with bl00d from the beating he received. His face was covered in tears. He collapsed onto his knees before Song Shian’s corpse.

“Shian! Shian!”

He embraced Song Shian’s head, kissing Song Shian’s already cold lips and cheeks in agonizing grief.

“How could you be so foolish! How could you be instigated by the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince killed your mother. How could he accept you! Shian! How am I supposed to live without you!”

Gu Zhen wailed loudly.

Amidst his utter despair, the Earl of Anping’s eyes moved. He looked at Gu Zhen.

His gaze gradually focused. His voice was hoarse and desolate, “What did you say?”

Gu Zhen, crying like a fountain, slumped onto the ground, hugging Song Shian’s body, “It was the Crown Prince who tricked Shian, making him expose Prince Yu! It was the Crown Prince who harmed Shian!”

The Earl of Anping remembered that before the banquet began, Shian had been nagging him, telling him to obey the Emperor and assassinate the Crown Prince.

“Shian said that since Uncle was unwilling to assassinate the Crown Prince, he wanted to win the Crown Prince over for Uncle. He wanted to gain the Crown Prince’s trust.

“He said the Crown Prince told him that as long as he brought people to Prince Yu’s place to catch the cheating, the Crown Prince would trust him.

“It’s my fault. I was supposed to stop Shian, but damn it, I was knocked unconscious! I was actually… actually sent to Prince Yu’s place!

“Shian, I will definitely avenge you! Definitely!”

Gu Zhen cried. Seeing the Earl of Anping remain silent, he harshly wiped away his tears.

“No matter what Uncle chooses, during the hunt tomorrow, I will surely fight to the death to kill the Crown Prince and avenge Madam and Shian! I cannot let Shian die in vain.

“Shian was so afraid of the cold and pain. How scared must he be in the underworld!”

Gu Zhen cried until he nearly fainted.

The Earl of Anping sighed heavily, stumbled, and struggled to get up from the ground, “Come inside with me.”

…

The chaos of the banquet, wrapped in the night wind, blew throughout the entire hunting palace.

Early the next day.

The Emperor, wearing a riding outfit, drew his bow and shot an arrow at a target on the hunting ground. When the sharp arrow pierced the center of the target, there was a burst of cheers.

The atmosphere was festive, as if nothing had happened the previous night.

The Emperor’s face held the majesty of an Emperor. He handed the bow and arrows he held to Qi Wang beside him, “The Crown Prince will lead the hunt on my behalf! I await your triumphant return! There will be a generous reward for those who hunt well!”

“Whoa!”

“Whoa!”

“Whoa!”

A group of aristocratic young men and military generals who were participating in the hunt immediately cheered loudly.

As the gold bell rang, the hunt began.

Qi Wang spurred his horse directly into the woods.

As soon as Qi Wang left, a eunuch walked to the Emperor’s side and whispered a report, “The Earl of Anping said that everything is arranged and he will certainly take the Crown Prince’s head.”