PDLP Chapter 1119 It turns out it was Li Xian
Chapter 1119 It turns out it was Li Xian
"My husband, you must come back safely."
Murong Yan paced restlessly in the Suzhou inn. She hadn't slept a wink since Lin Zhen left.
She was still wearing the Phoenix Descent Dress, her only attire. Without the embroidered robe, she appeared less like an emperor and more like an unconcealed wife's anxiety.
The extremely dark black Suzhou brocade base, under the dim oil lamp of the inn, resembled a bottomless vortex, sucking in all the light.
This cotton nightgown, woven with the light and breathable Suzhou brocade technique, feels weightless despite its large size; the soft fabric against the skin provides a slightly cool touch.
Because of her restlessness, she paced back and forth, and the five-zhang-long dark gold Suzhou brocade trail behind her was dragged, tangled, and piled up on the rough wooden floor, forming a messy scene full of anxiety and unease.
Her wide, bell-shaped sleeves swayed back and forth with her movements, and the intricate gold tassels at the cuffs occasionally brushed against the ground, making a soft sound.
Du Ruhui stood aside, looking at her like this, and was also very worried.
"Your Majesty, you haven't rested for a day and a night. Please go and rest for a while. The Prince is a lucky man; he will surely be alright," he couldn't help but advise.
"I can't sleep." Murong Yanyan shook her head. She walked to the window, looked at the dark mountains in the distance, and her voice trembled slightly. "Prime Minister Du, do you think... he might be in danger?"
Du Ruhui remained silent.
He didn't know how to answer.
The ancestral home of the Kong family is riddled with traps and extremely dangerous. Although the prince possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, he is ultimately only made of flesh and blood.
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.
A Night Owl spy scrambled in, his face filled with terror and panic.
"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Prince... the Prince..."
Murong Yan felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and the whole world began to spin.
"What happened to the prince?! Tell me quickly!" She rushed forward and grabbed the scout by the collar, her nails digging into his flesh with all her might.
Her voice, filled with extreme fear and panic, became sharp and distorted, completely devoid of its usual imperial demeanor.
"Your Majesty..." The scout was so frightened by her imposing manner that he stammered, "His Highness...His Highness led his men into the Kong family's ancestral home, but...but it's full of traps and mechanisms, and our men suffered heavy losses! Now...now His Highness is trapped in the innermost ancestral hall and can't get out!"
"what?!"
Murong Yan felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Are you trapped?
how come? !
He is Lin Zhen! He is the God of War of the Great Qian Dynasty!
He was the omnipotent man who could always shield her from the storm! How could he be trapped?!
"Immediately mobilize all forces! At all costs! Raze that damned mountain to the ground! And rescue the Prince for me!" She practically roared as she gave the order.
"Your Majesty! No!" Du Ruhui, who was standing to the side, immediately reacted after the initial shock and rushed forward to stop her.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" His aged voice trembled slightly.
"The Kong family's ancestral home is located deep in the mountains, in a strategically important and easily defensible location. Moreover, that scoundrel Kong Zhiqian must have made thorough preparations to set a trap! If we rashly send a large army there, not only will we fail to rescue the prince, but we may also fall into an even bigger trap set by the enemy, resulting in unnecessary casualties!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?! Are we just going to stand by and watch him die inside?!" Murong Yan's phoenix eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged lioness, glaring fiercely at Du Ruhui.
She knew that Du Ruhui was right.
She understands the道理 (principles/reasons), but she can't control herself!
The thought that Lin Zhen might be in grave danger, facing imminent death, made her heart ache as if it were about to break.
She didn't care about anything else!
She only wanted to save him!
immediately! immediately!
"Your Majesty... this old minister..." Du Ruhui was stunned by her reckless and crazy aura, and for a moment, he was speechless.
He knew that His Majesty was no longer willing to listen to any advice at this moment.
Just as tensions were rising, another "Night Owl" spy, like a black lightning bolt, rushed into the room.
"Your Majesty! The Prince has sent a secret message!"
He knelt on one knee and presented a bamboo tube sealed with sealing wax with both hands.
Murong Yan's heart skipped a beat!
She almost snatched the bamboo tube from the spy's hand. Because her fingers were trembling, she tried several times before she could crush the sealing wax and pull out a small piece of paper from it.
The note contained only a few words in a strong, familiar handwriting that Lin Zhen recognized.
"Yan'er, I'm fine. I've obtained the prescription, but it requires one ingredient. Quickly escort Li Xian to the Kong family's ancestral home. Remember, keep a close watch on him; nothing can go wrong. Don't worry."
Upon seeing the words "I'm fine," Murong Yan's heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled down a little.
She let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away, and her body went limp as she fell backward.
"Your Majesty!" Du Ruhui was shocked and quickly stepped forward to support her.
"I'm fine..." Murong Yan waved her hand, indicating that she was alright.
She clutched the note tightly in her hand, looking at it repeatedly.
The prescription has been found!
He's fine!
The immense joy instantly dispelled the fear that had just been there.
But then, even deeper doubts welled up in my mind.
A medicinal guide?
What kind of medicinal ingredient is needed that would require personally escorting that traitor Li Xian there?
Moreover, although Lin Zhen's handwriting was still vigorous, Murong Yan could sense an undisguised urgency and...exhaustion in the powerful strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper.
He must have gone through a hardship that is unimaginable to ordinary people.
"Your Majesty, the Prince..." Du Ruhui asked tentatively, looking at Murong Yan's ever-changing expression.
“My husband is alright.” Murong Yan took a deep breath, regaining her imperial composure and decisiveness. “He has found the antidote, but… he needs Li Xian to make the medicinal ingredient.”
"A medicinal catalyst?!" Du Ruhui looked puzzled upon hearing this.
"I don't understand it either," Murong Yan shook her head, "but since it's my husband's order, there must be a deeper meaning behind it. Prime Minister Du, go and do it immediately!"
She straightened up, her voice becoming cold and authoritative.
"Select two hundred of the most elite assassins from 'Night Owl,' led by Ghost Shadow himself, to escort that traitor Li Xian to the Kong family ancestral home unharmed! Tell Ghost Shadow that if Li Xian loses even a single hair on the way, I will take his head!"
"Yes! Your old minister obeys the decree!" Du Ruhui dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately accepted the order and left.
Murong Yan was left alone in the room again.
She walked to the table, unfolded the map of Jiangnan again, and her gaze fell on the rolling mountains where the Kong family's ancestral home was located.
Her fingers gently caressed that area.
My husband, what exactly are you going through?
What exactly is that so-called "medicinal guide"?
She couldn't figure it out.
But she knew that the only thing she could do now was to trust him.
Trust him unconditionally.
……
The ancestral home and ancestral hall of the Kong family.
Lin Zhen sat cross-legged on the cold stone ground, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.
His wounds had been simply bandaged, but excessive blood loss, coupled with days of running around and fighting, had left him in a state of extreme weakness.
The dozens of "Night Owls" around him were also all wounded and looked dejected.
But no one dared to disturb their prince at this time.
They knew that the prince was thinking.
Thinking about how to break this deadlock.
Lin Zhen's heart was completely empty at this moment.
After figuring out Kong Zhiqian's vicious plan, his anger gradually subsided.
Instead, there is a cold, machine-like calmness.
He knew that Kong Zhiqian, that madman, was still here, in some corner of this ancestral hall, watching his every move like a venomous snake.
He must be waiting, waiting to see his own despair, waiting to see his own madness.
Lin Zhen was determined not to let him have his way.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling once again on the poem engraved on the base of the memorial tablet.
"Originally a wanderer from the ends of the earth, I accidentally fell into the mortal world. Only after staining the nine heavens with blood could I return to my true essence."