42: King Qi's Plan

Prince Chu's Mansion, guest hall.

Prince Qi paced back and forth in the hall, looking anxious. This was the ninth time he had asked Wu Zhong when Prince Chu would arrive.

"Your Highness has responded. Please, Your Highness, be patient," Wu Zhong replied.

Prince Qi sighed at the words, sat back down, looked out the door, and waited silently.

Before long.

His face was again covered with worry, and he went out to greet someone.

Opposite him, Xia Xuan approached.

"Why is Second Brother looking so troubled? Has a red apricot bloomed outside the courtyard wall?"

Xia Xuan immediately ribbed him upon meeting.

Prince Qi gave a bitter smile, not minding the joke. "Third Brother, the situation is even more serious than that."

"What's wrong?" Xia Xuan looked puzzled.

"Third Brother, your heart is too big. Are you immersed in a gentle paradise every day, not paying attention to news from the outside world?"

Prince Qi sighed, saying, "Father Emperor wants to bestow a marriage upon the Crown Prince. We have no chance now."

Xia Xuan received the news even before Prince Qi, but still appeared very shocked:

"What? Wasn't a one-month period set? Father Emperor has always been a man of his word. Why is he retracting his command this time and forcing a marriage?"

"Perhaps Father Emperor does not have much time left."

Prince Qi's eyes glinted coldly. "Third Brother, you should understand that once the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister join forces, almost the entire Wu Dynasty will be theirs to command. With the Crown Prince's vengeful nature, neither of us will live long."

"Then, Second Brother, why don't you quickly think of a way to sabotage this marriage? This Prince does not want to die young," Xia Xuan frowned.

"There is a way, of course, but it requires your cooperation, Third Brother."

"Stop beating around the bush. Say what you have to say directly," Xia Xuan said with slight impatience.

"Kidnap her."

Prince Qi looked into Xia Xuan's eyes and instigated, "All you need to do, Third Brother, is capture Gu Qingxian and bring her to Prince Chu's Mansion, ruin her innocence, and then imprison her. Then this marriage will definitely not be completed."

Xia Xuan was so angry he laughed instead: "Do you really think this Prince is a fool? Not to mention putting horns on the Crown Prince will make him fight to the death.

The Prime Minister's Residence has many experts. What will this Prince use to kidnap Gu Qingxian? And how should I deal with the aftermath?"

Prince Qi smiled and analyzed, "Third Brother, haven't you always wanted revenge on the Crown Prince? Ruining Gu Qingxian's innocence and making him lose face is far more satisfying than simple revenge.

As for the experts of the Prime Minister's Residence, what do we have to fear if you and I join forces? I believe the Great General left many experts at the mansion before he left, right?

As for the aftermath, Third Brother, you don't have to worry. You have the Great General as your backer. No matter how furious the Crown Prince gets, he wouldn't dare to openly touch you.

Perhaps, the Prime Minister might even choose to form a marriage alliance with you for the sake of his daughter's reputation."

Prince Qi laid out all the benefits, like bait, tempting Xia Xuan.

"Third Brother, what do you think? This is our last chance."

Xia Xuan calmly pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, we'll act tonight!"

"Good! These past few days, the Prime Minister's Residence has been preparing for the engagement. People are coming and going, and it's a mixed bag, which is a good time to fish in troubled waters."

Prince Qi laughed, "This Prince congratulates His Highness Prince Chu in advance, wishing you immediate success and the return of the beauty!"

After discussing and finalizing some more details, Prince Qi gracefully took his leave.

Wu Zhong stood by, looking as if he wanted to speak but held back.

"What, do you also think this matter is improper?" Xia Xuan asked casually.

Wu Zhong nodded.

Xia Xuan chuckled, "How could I bear to refuse my good Second Brother, who wants to kill with a borrowed knife so much?"

He didn't reveal his subsequent plan and immediately began to arrange his men... Evening.

The Prime Minister's Residence was festooned with lanterns and streamers, and officials from the Imperial Capital all came to offer congratulations, making it very lively.

A carriage drove out from the back gate of the Prime Minister's Residence.

"Your Highness, we're sneaking out without informing the Prime Minister. Is that really alright?" The maid driving the carriage looked around nervously.

"I just want to go out for a stroll. I'll be back soon," Gu Qingxian's gentle voice came from inside the carriage.

"Your Highness Changming."

In this rarely traveled alley, another voice suddenly sounded.

A burly man, dressed in the armor of a Tiger and Leopard Battalion general, was kneeling before the carriage at some unknown point.

"This subordinate, Chen Leopard, has been ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince to protect Your Highness Changming's safety."

"Xiao Ran, you can go back then. This general will take over the driving," Gu Qingxian spoke again.

"It is my honor to drive for Your Highness Changming."

Chen Leopard took the maid's place and drove the carriage.

Not far from the Prime Minister's Residence.

Pink petals suddenly drifted down from the sky.

Even the air was filled with a sweet, cloying fragrance.

Chen Leopard's expression was stern, his brows furrowed with the Evil Qi of a military strategist. A battle-hardened aura of killing and blood Qi soared into the sky, covering all the exotic fragrance in the air with a cold, bloody smell.

A chill permeated, bone-chillingly cold.

"Oh my, these military men really have no romance."

The scattered petals gathered, revealing the figure of a captivating woman.

She was dressed boldly, exposing her navel, jade back, and large expanses of fair skin, more wanton than women in brothels.

"Demon Sect rat, daring to appear in the Imperial Capital, you're seeking death!"

Chen Leopard raised his hand, and a cold gleam suddenly appeared.

The spear shot out like a Dragon, the military Evil Qi condensed at the spear tip, like a blood-colored flood Dragon, pouncing out.

"Roar!"

The blood Dragon tore through the sky full of petals, slamming into the Myriad Flower Valley woman's Dharma Idol projection, directly gouging out a hole, causing her main body to tremble incessantly, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"General, such a powerful attack! Your masculine Qi is condensed to Perfection, truly making this servant envious. Why don't you let down your guard and play with this servant for a while?"

The Myriad Flower Valley woman laughed foolishly.

The illusory Dharma Idol behind her automatically disintegrated, turning into a waterfall of flowers that enveloped the entire area.

Her voice, like a demonic sound, pierced directly into the mind.

Chen Leopard's vision suddenly changed.

The carriage disappeared, and an endless sea of flowers enveloped him. His general's armor faded, and a series of flirtatious laughter came from his ears. Immediately after, the dancing petals suddenly transformed into seven or eight figures of that captivating woman, touching him all over.

In the alley.

Chen Leopard, with his eyes closed, was carried into the air by the petals, unable to break free from the illusion for a while.

"General, wake up!"

A furious roar, like thunder.

In mid-air, an old man dressed as a Southern Border Gu Master played a flute.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

In the sky, buzzing sounds echoed, and dense black Gu insects flew into the battlefield, frantically devouring the petals.

"Tsk tsk tsk, a mere Divine Martial Realm cultivator dares to meddle? You're asking for death!"

Behind the Gu Master, a black-clothed figure flashed. With a wave of his large hand, the power of heaven and earth condensed into a Dharma Idol palm, which clenched tightly.

"Boom!"

"Caw!!!"

A piercing, teeth-grinding scream rang out.

The giant Dharma Idol palm dissipated, revealing a bloody, mangled figure.

The old Gu Master's vitality still lingered. His throat burst open, and an eight-legged black-backed Gu insect flew out.

The Gu insect shrieked, like a sudden clap of thunder.

It unleashed waves of sound, forcefully pushing back the black-clothed figure behind it.

"There's even a Gu King."

The black-clothed figure was about to strike again.

Just then, the carriage trembled slightly, and a nine-zhang illusory Dharma Idol appeared in mid-air.

The old woman, the Immortal Fate Studio's Dao Protector, leaning on her staff, appeared beside the black-clothed figure. With a gentle push, a tremendous force emerged, like a giant golden hammer, smashing towards the black-clothed figure with a resounding crash.

"Boom!!!"

This strike produced a sonic boom.

The black-clothed man only felt intense pain invading his entire body. His internal organs seemed to shatter, and in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying backward, his body smashing through the hard bluestone slabs, falling into a deep pit, coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.

"You guys, aren't you going to act!?"

He roared desperately at the sky, then coughed up a large puddle of blood mixed with shattered internal organs.