jdhmnovel Chapter 534 The Emperor is assassinated, the situation is critical (2)
Chapter 534 The Emperor is assassinated, the situation is critical (2)
Logically speaking, they should be hunting at this time, shouldn't they?
An Mi's mention of it made Bai Yi frown. Thinking of the guard's report earlier, he realized that something seemed a little off. "Someone told me that you were hit by an arrow, so I rushed back."
"A messenger?" An Mi also realized something was amiss. She hadn't been hit by an arrow, and besides, no one had been sent to inform Bai Yi, but...
"It happened!"
"It happened!"
Bai Yi and An Mi shouted in unison. They looked at each other, and in that one glance, they both knew that the other's guess was the same as theirs: they were probably being used!
Including the arrow that was just shot at her!
"Go back quickly!" An Mi said, thinking to herself, "I hope nothing bad happens at the hunting grounds."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Bai Yi, before he could even take a step out, heard a commotion outside the tent.
Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Yi and An Mi hurriedly left the tent. Seeing the chaotic crowd outside, their brows furrowed even more.
"What happened?" Bai Yi casually grabbed a guard and asked sternly.
"Reporting to the King of Bohai, His Majesty... His Majesty has been assassinated!" The guard trembled with fear, and seeing the King of Bohai's increasingly gloomy face, he became even more frightened.
Assassination attempt? An Mi and Bai Yi exchanged a glance, and without the slightest hesitation, rushed towards the crowd. In the crowd, Emperor Mingde lay on a stretcher, an arrow stained with blood in his chest. The concubines and female relatives beside him were all pale with fright and panicked. Only Empress Feng quickly calmed down and hurriedly ordered, "Quickly, imperial physician, summon the imperial physician to be on standby and take the emperor to the camp!"
But at this moment, who dares to move the Emperor even an inch? The arrow is right in his chest, still bleeding. If he moves anything and something bad happens, who can bear the responsibility?
"Third brother, let's go together!" Qinglan, who was standing to the side with a serious expression, spoke up and glanced at Bai Yi, who had just arrived.
Bai Yi naturally did not object. He stepped forward nimbly and, together with Qing Lan, carried the stretcher towards the main tent. After settling Emperor Mingde down, the accompanying imperial physicians began to treat him. Outside the screen, Empress Feng, Bai Yi, Qing Lan, the Second Prince, and several court officials listened to the commotion inside, their expressions extremely solemn.
"What exactly happened? How could His Majesty have been assassinated?" Empress Feng asked, her brows furrowed. She was much calmer than before.
This hunting ground had been thoroughly searched beforehand to ensure that no unauthorized personnel were inside, but now...
Qinglan, Baiyi, the Second Prince and the others exchanged glances, all with solemn expressions.
"Where is the assassin?" Bai Yi asked loudly. Thinking of the series of events that had happened before, he realized that the mastermind behind the attack on the Emperor had probably arranged everything in advance, and that this series of events was just to get him out of the way.
But why send him away? And who is the person behind it all?
The second prince froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Yes, behind the scenes. Your Majesty, I implore you to search the mountain and find the assassin. I want to see who has the audacity to harm Father Emperor."
Just now, when they saw the Emperor shot by an arrow on horseback, they didn't care about anything else and only thought about sending the Emperor back for treatment. They didn't think that was the time to find the person who shot the arrow!
“Second Brother is right. If we expand the search area now, we might be able to catch the assassin.” Qinglan frowned.
Everyone looked at Empress Feng, waiting for her to make a decision.
Empress Feng, under the gaze of everyone, frowned and glanced behind the screen. Had the imperial physician not sent any news for so long?
How badly is the Emperor injured?
Thinking of the Emperor's blood-covered appearance just now, Empress Feng's heart tightened suddenly. Instantly, the color in her eyes darkened. When she looked at everyone again, she had already made up her mind. "The Princess Consort of Bohai was also almost assassinated just now. It is clear that there is more than one assassin. I am worried that the assassin will continue to harm us. Qinglan, you take men to protect the safety of this tent. Baiyi, you take men to track down those villains. My son, as for you, stay here and guard the Emperor."
"Mother..." The Second Prince seemed dissatisfied with this arrangement.
But as soon as she uttered those two words, Empress Feng waved her hand and said, "Go yourselves."
Qinglan and Baiyi accepted the order and left. The other officials also dared not remain in the tent and withdrew. Only the Second Prince remained, his face still showing dissatisfaction. Only after everyone outside the screen had left did he hurriedly pull Empress Feng aside and whisper, "Mother, why did you entrust the task of catching the assassin to Baiyi? If I could have secured this credit, then Father..."
"My son, how could you be so foolish!" Empress Feng frowned and gave the Second Prince a displeased look.
The second prince was taken aback and even more puzzled, "Why does Mother say such a thing?"
"Hmph, do you think I don't know that if we can catch the assassin, your father will be overjoyed? However, your father was wounded in the chest. The arrow was less than half an inch from his heart, and he is still unconscious. The imperial physicians have not yet sent any news. I'm afraid the emperor's condition is..." Empress Feng's eyes narrowed, and there was not much sadness in her eyes, but rather a hint of calculation.
The second prince wasn't stupid. After Empress Feng's reminder, he realized the seriousness of the situation. If his father was truly dead, then the heir to the throne...
"Mother, what should we do now?" The Second Prince looked at Empress Feng, his expression growing increasingly serious.
Empress Feng remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Let's wait and see. However, we must also be prepared, in case your father passes away..."
Empress Feng's eyes narrowed. If the Emperor were to truly pass away, she would surely ensure that her son ascended to the position of supreme power.
However, she could not underestimate her opponents before that. She had seen the current situation, and Qinglan and Baiyi probably had as well. If they were determined to fight, then she had to be fully prepared!
Hmph, the throne will definitely belong to her son, and no one can compete with him!
Even though Bai Yi controls the economic lifeline of the Great Jin Dynasty, and even though Qing Lan is not an easy opponent, she still has the Feng family behind her, doesn't she?
This is the time when it will come in handy!
A cold glint flashed in Empress Feng's eyes, and a calculating smile curled at the corner of her lips. The next instant, her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious...
"Mother..." The sudden turn of events threw the Second Prince into a panic. His cry startled the palace maids and eunuchs serving behind the screen. When they came out to see what was happening, they found that Empress Feng had fainted.
They dared not neglect their duties and stepped forward to help the Second Prince lift Empress Feng up from the ground and place her on a couch to the side.