Chapter 28: Ye Xun, Enraged, Vows to Spill Blood Within Five Paces and Seeks Aid at the Duke of State Protection’s Residence
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Night had fallen, dark and stormy.
The Prince of Qin’s Residence.
Front Hall.
Zheng Qian had disappeared without returning, and Cao An was long overdue. Ye Xun was deeply worried. By all appearances, something must have happened.
He had never imagined that someone would scheme against him after only three days.
It seemed his situation was even worse than he had thought.
What was more, Ye Xun had no idea who was behind it. He had too many enemies, and there was no shortage of people with a motive.
At that thought, Ye Xun lowered his eyes and rose to his feet.
Seeing him stand, Ling’er hurriedly followed suit and asked anxiously, “Your Highness, where are you going?”
Ye Xun replied in a low voice, “Zheng Qian and Cao An still haven’t returned. I can’t rest easy. I’m going out to look for them.”
Ling’er’s heart leaped. “But… but the curfew has already begun at this hour. If you go out now…”
Boom!
A thunderclap exploded across the sky.
The next instant, raindrops as large as beans came crashing down upon the estate. Rain poured from the heavens.
As if misfortune had chosen the worst possible moment to strike.
Even so, nothing could stop Ye Xun from going out to search for Cao An and Zheng Qian.
There was no other choice. Apart from him, only Ling’er remained in the Prince of Qin’s Residence.
“It’s fine,” Ye Xun said indifferently. “I am a prince. Even during curfew, the patrol barracks would not dare do anything to me.”
As he spoke, he made for the entrance of the hall.
At that moment, a black figure tore through the curtain of rain and rushed into the hall in an instant.
Whine!
Wangcai let out a pained cry and collapsed onto the floor with Cao An on his back.
“Cao An! Wangcai!” Ye Xun shouted, hurrying over.
Ling’er ran after him. “Big Brother Cao! Wangcai!”
When Ye Xun saw the arrows lodged in Cao An and Wangcai, fury blazed within him. His eyes nearly split with rage, and his voice turned icy.
“Who did this to you?”
At once, Ling’er hurried to fetch the medicine chest and began tending to Cao An and Wangcai’s wounds.
The arrows had pierced deep into their flesh. She could treat only the wounds around the edges, for she did not dare pull the arrows out on her own.
Cao An sat on the floor, his face pale, and shook his head. “I don’t know. Wangcai and I were searching for Cousin in the eastern market when, halfway there…”
He then told Ye Xun everything that had happened.
After hearing him, Ye Xun flew into a rage. The veins in his tightly clenched fists stood out.
When an ordinary man is enraged, blood may be spilled within five paces.
If he did not avenge this grudge, he would no longer be worthy to call himself a man.
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Huff…
Ye Xun rose to his feet, eyes lowered, and said in a deep voice, “Ling’er, take good care of Cao An and Wangcai. I’m going out for a while…”
Smack!
Cao An seized Ye Xun by the arm. “Wangcai, don’t let His Highness leave.”
At once, Wangcai staggered forward and caught the hem of Ye Xun’s trousers between his teeth.
“Cao An, what are you doing?” Ye Xun turned to him, his brows drawn tightly together.
Cao An hurriedly said, “Your Highness, they’re waiting for you to walk straight into their trap! Cousin has vanished, and Wangcai and I were ambushed and nearly killed. It’s obvious that this was aimed at the Prince of Qin’s Residence. We’re only lowly lives; it doesn’t matter if we die.”
“But you must not put yourself in danger!”
Ye Xun suddenly exerted his strength, tearing his sleeve and trouser leg free. Lowering his gaze, he said, “There are no lowly lives in the Prince of Qin’s Residence. Rest assured, I’m not foolish enough to go looking for them to argue.”
“Wait here for word from me…”
With that, Ye Xun rushed out of the front hall and vanished into the vast darkness and curtain of rain.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, don’t go!”
“Whine…”
Cao An, Ling’er, and Wangcai stared after Ye Xun, their eyes filled with worry.
Bang!
Cao An slammed his fist against the floor, his eyes bloodshot. “It’s all my fault! All my fault! I’m too weak. I’m always holding His Highness back.”
Seeing him like this, Ling’er hurried over and helped him up.
“Big Brother Cao, don’t belittle yourself. You’ve already done very well.”
Wangcai nudged Cao An with its head, looking aggrieved.
“Whine…”
…
At the same time, Ye Xun had already left the Prince of Qin’s Residence and was heading toward the Duke Protector’s Residence.
Apart from Wei Wuji, he could think of no one else who might help him.
Ye Xun raced through the downpour, yet his mind was unusually calm, and his heart gradually grew colder.
He had never intended to fight with anyone. He had only wished to live quietly as a carefree and romantic prince.
Yet certain people were like flies, returning again and again to pester him—and each time, their methods became more vicious.
Since you refuse to let me live in peace, then I will make sure every one of you dies!
Only now did Ye Xun understand that in the imperial family, no one could remain uninvolved.
A short while later, Ye Xun arrived at the main gate of the Duke Protector’s Residence.
Bang, bang, bang…
He stepped forward and pounded heavily on the gate.
Creak…
The gate opened.
A guard poked his head out. Seeing Ye Xun drenched like a drowned rat, he asked in a low voice, “Who are you? Why have you come here in the middle of the night?”
Ye Xun wiped the rain from his face and looked at the guard.
“I am Prince Qin, Ye Xun. I wish to see the Duke Protector.”
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Seeing the blood-red look in his eyes, the guard was startled.
Once he recognized Ye Xun’s face, the guard hurriedly answered, “Please wait, Your Highness. I shall inform the duke.”
He then slammed the gate shut.
The Duke Protector’s Residence.
Front Hall.
Wei Wuji sat at the head of the hall, while Prince Wu, Ye Tao, sat below him.
The two men had been engaged in cheerful conversation.
At that moment, Wei Wuji’s eldest son, Wei Feng, ran in from outside and leaned close to his father’s ear to whisper something.
After hearing him, Wei Wuji snorted coldly and swept out his sleeve in anger.
“What does he want at our residence in the middle of the night? I will not see him!”
Wei Feng acknowledged him and turned to leave the front hall.
At the same time, Ye Tao rose to his feet.
“Duke, since you have a guest, I shall not disturb you. It is already late, and I should return home.”
“Haha, very well…” Wei Wuji smiled. “In that case, I shall not detain Your Highness. Take care on your way.”
Ye Tao nodded. “Farewell.”
The steward then led him out through the rear door of the front hall and toward the back gate of the duke’s residence.
Wei Wuji returned to his cushion, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip.
Half an hour later, Wei Feng returned from outside the hall. He approached and said hesitantly, “Father, Prince Qin is still standing outside and refuses to leave.”
“He still hasn’t gone?” Wei Wuji’s brows furrowed into a deep crease. He set down the cup in his hand. “Why has he come here so late at night?”
Wei Feng shook his head slightly. “Prince Qin refuses to say. He insists on seeing you. He said that if you would not receive him, he would not leave. He also said that human lives are at stake.”
“Hmph.” Wei Wuji let out a disdainful snort. “Childish.”
He waved his hand. “Very well, very well. Let him in. I would like to see what life-or-death matter he claims to have.”
“Yes, Father.”
Wei Feng nodded slightly and headed outside.
A moment later, the gate opened once more.
Wei Feng looked at Ye Xun and said slowly, “Your Highness, Father will see you.”
Hearing this, Ye Xun raised his head and gave a slight bow.
“Thank you, Cousin.”
Although the relationship between them was poor, they were still first cousins.
It was not that Ye Xun had ever disliked Wei Feng.
Rather, Wei Feng had never thought much of his cousin, the former crown prince.
Seeing Ye Xun in such a wretched state, Wei Feng sighed helplessly.
“There is no need to thank me, Your Highness. Come in with me.”