The Real Young Master Was Sold as a Slave, The Obsessive Crown Prince's Forced Love - Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Acting
After entering the forest, Qi Wang went deeper and deeper as he shot at prey until he was almost completely separated from the main group—
Swoosh~
Just as Qi Wang aimed at a wild boar and was about to draw his bow, a sharp arrow flew straight toward him.
Ban Jin, guarding Qi Wang’s side, raised his hand and brought his sword down. The moment the arrow approached, he struck it down.
“Your Highness, they have made their move.”
Hardly had the hushed voice fallen when three more arrows shot over from three different directions.
While swinging his sword to cut down the arrows, Ban Jin yelled loudly, “Ba Liang, protect His Highness and quickly return to the palace! I’ll cover the rear! They are well-hidden. There’s no time to waste!”
Ba Liang cooperated, “Your Highness, go!”
Qi Wang and Ba Liang spurred their horses and rapidly left.
As they turned to leave, over a dozen arrows were fired almost simultaneously from different directions.
Ban Jin leaped off the horse’s back, flipping up, and swung his sword with all his might.
Pfft~
A sharp arrow directly pierced his shoulder.
Ban Jin gritted his teeth hard, enduring the pain, and lunged toward the arrows that were flying towards him again.
The people hidden in the dark, seeing that their arrows had not harmed Qi Wang at all and that Qi Wang had left the shooting range, immediately revealed themselves from their hiding places and chased after Qi Wang.
Ban Jin desperately tried to block them, but one person could not contend with the dozen or so people who suddenly emerged. He could only temporarily abandon his futile resistance, turn around, and clumsily pursue Qi Wang.
At the same time.
In the temporary palace.
People had already begun to return with their prey.
A bonfire was set up in the courtyard. The cleaned prey were placed whole on the fire to roast. The aroma of meat, accompanied by the sizzling sound of fat, permeated the entire hunting palace with the indulgence of the hunt.
At the feast.
Everyone was enthusiastically discussing the results of the hunt.
Beside the Emperor, a small eunuch reported in a low voice, “The Earl of Anping has made his move. Ban Jin, the Crown Prince’s guard, is seriously wounded. The Crown Prince fled in panic into the depths of the forest and is certain to die.”
The smile that was already on the Emperor’s lips deepened.
He raised his cup to the officials seated before him, “Today’s hunt shows the bravery of all you officials. I am greatly pleased. The first to return, with five or more pieces of prey, shall all be rewarded!”
Immediately, there was a chorus of thanks for the Emperor’s profound benevolence!
Just as the joyous sound had yet to subside, a small eunuch entered from outside, his eyes and brows radiating joy, “Your Majesty, a student from the Imperial College has hunted a wild boar and a stag, and has come to present them.”
As soon as these words fell, the entire assembly began to discuss it animatedly.
The Imperial College students were all scholars incapable of heavy labor. Even the archery they did was only a small part of their curriculum, mostly for show. How could a talented person emerge?
Could he be proficient in both literary and martial arts?
The Emperor was also surprised. Is this year going to produce a talented person who excels in both literary and martial arts?
That would be an auspicious sign.
Only a wise ruler deserves a capable official.
The Emperor immediately chuckled, “Present it quickly!”
With a command, four students entered from outside.
Two carried a wild boar, and two carried a stag, presenting them forward.
As soon as they stepped forward, one student knelt and said, “This stag has not yet been bled. The first cup of bl00d is presented to Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty good health and boundless longevity!”
Consort Li, sitting next to the Emperor, tilted her head to observe.
Oh my~
How articulate! Look how much he’s flattered the Emperor. The Emperor’s about to smile like a baby.
I must learn this well!
The Emperor was indeed greatly pleased. He laughed heartily twice and instructed the Chief Eunuch beside him, “Give him a cup.”
The Chief Eunuch hastily fetched the Emperor’s golden cup for the scholar.
The student said to the Chief Eunuch, “Thank you, Esteemed Eunuch. And could I have a dagger, please, to bleed the stag?”
No knives or swords were allowed when meeting the Emperor.
The Chief Eunuch fetched a dagger for him.
The student took the dagger—
Pfft!
He immediately plunged the dagger into the Chief Eunuch’s heart.
The sudden turn of events was completely unexpected.
Not to mention the officials at the nearby tables, even the Chief Eunuch himself didn’t react.
His mind went blank for a moment before his pupils dilated, his eyes filled with shock.
I was murdered?
And the student, having stabbed the Chief Eunuch, leaped up off the Chief Eunuch’s body that fell with a thud, and charged towards the Emperor on the high main seat.
“Guards! Protect the Emperor!”
Consort Li was the first to react, jumping up and shouting.
Her body reacted faster than her mind. She grabbed the tablecloth from the table in front of the Emperor, gave it a sharp pull, and flung it towards the charging student.
Bang!
The attacking student was struck on the forehead by a wine pot that flew off the table.
His movement slowed by half a beat.
Beside them, the guards, recovering from their astonishment, bravely rushed forward to protect the Emperor.
At the same time, the three other people disguised as students rushed forward and snatched the guards’ swords and daggers.
Normally, a group of guards wouldn’t have trouble against four assassins, but as the fighting erupted inside, several more assassins rushed in from outside. The main gate of the hunting palace was tightly shut.
The hall became a scene of intense fighting.
The Emperor, at the moment the student raised his sword to charge, was so frightened he nearly wet himself.
He recoiled fiercely in terror.
Now, with the guards fighting, the Emperor’s entire face had no room for anger, only fear!
In the main hall, the officials who had just been chatting and laughing all shrunk beneath the tables, afraid of being accidentally wounded.
The assassins who rushed in had clear targets and swift, decisive movements, with only one goal: to kill the Emperor.
Almost everyone was looking for an opportunity to stab the Emperor.
Consort Li mustered her courage. Seeing an assassin charging, and feeling that this stab wouldn’t go too deep—
For the status of favorite consort!
I must do this!
Gritting her teeth, Consort Li rushed forward and hugged the Emperor.
Pfft!
The knife directly stabbed into Consort Li’s arm.
Bl00d splattered onto the Emperor’s face.
Consort Li clung to the Emperor, tears streaming down her face from the pain, “This concubine will not allow anyone to harm Your Majesty!”
Beside them, Consort Li’s personal maid was dumbfounded!
Oh my goodness~
You can still act at a time like this?
If I didn’t serve you every day, I would actually believe you!
No wonder you are the favorite!
The assassination took a full half hour before the assassins were subdued by the guards.
And during this half hour, the soldiers of the Xishan Grand Camp, who were responsible for the palace’s security, failed to show up.
After all the assassins were subdued, the fear on the Emperor’s face and in his heart receded. First, he loudly called for the Imperial Physicians to take Consort Li for treatment.
Immediately following, he burst into a towering rage. His entire face, stained with Consort Li’s bl00d, was livid, “Audacious! Interrogate them for me! Where did these rebels come from! What has Wei Dequan of the Xishan Grand Camp been eating!”
As the Emperor’s furious voice fell, a person, covered in bl00d, looking disheveled, and almost completely out of strength, rushed in from outside.
Someone recognized him as the Crown Prince’s guard, Ba Liang.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been assassinated! Please quickly send people to save him!”
Ba Liang stumbled two steps into the hall, shouted the message, and then completely collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
The whole assembly was in an uproar!
The Emperor had just survived an assassination, and now the Crown Prince was also assassinated?