Chapter 413: Drag Them Away and Cane Them to Death
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Mo Tu’s fists were being restrained tightly, and he immediately woke up.
The black fog in front of him dispersed, revealing Su Ying’s icy face.
Su Ying looked at the change in his eyes and released her grip. “You remembered now?”
Mo Tu lowered his eyes and didn’t say anything. Su Ying didn’t press him either. After all, she wasn’t that interested in his past. She only treated him out of gratitude.
“Heroine Su, you really surprised me.”
Just as Su Ying turned around, Mo Tu suddenly raised his head, and his pair of alluring eyes had an additional touch of flirtatious charm.
Su Ying turned back and glanced at him. Her eyes narrowed instantly. He was still the same person, but in that instant, she felt that his aura was completely different. It was as if he had become a different person. She was sure that he must have remembered something.
“There are many things you don’t know that can surprise you.” With that, she ignored him and left the cabin.
Mo Tu got up from the bed, and in the blink of an eye, his expression returned to normal.
They had been sailing for almost half a month. According to their schedule, they would reach the shore of the Jin State in another half a month.
The rest of the journey went fairly smoothly. Gradually, they saw some ships in the sea.
The pirate leader said that if they saw merchant ships, it meant that they were close to the Jin State.
Su Ying took out her binoculars and stood on the deck. Sure enough, she could see the continent not far away.
In the Chu State, outside the sleeping chamber in the Imperial Palace.
Prince Jiangning stomped his feet outside the chamber anxiously.
“What do you guys mean by this? I am worried about His Majesty’s health and want to go in to take a look, but you people are blocking me in every possible way. What ulterior motives do you guys have!”
Zhao Neng, who was standing guard outside the door, said with a stony face, “I understand Your Highness’s worries, but His Majesty is unwell and needs time to recuperate. His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb him. Please go back, Your Highness.”
Prince Jiangning shamelessly shouted, “I’m not going back. If I don’t see His Majesty today, I won’t go back no matter what happens!”
Zhao Neng had no choice but to instruct the Imperial Guards to take him away.
Prince Jiangning was even more displeased when he was restrained by the two Imperial Guards. “Are you guys trying to rebel? Are you trying to rebel? Let me warn you. If I don’t get to see His Majesty today, that means you guys want to murder His Majesty. I will never leave, no matter what you say!”
In the dark, many palace maids and eunuchs were peeping. News of the situation in Jing Prefecture had already spread to the capital. Now, everyone knew that the Empress had been washed away by the flood waters and that the Emperor had fallen ill from grief.
The new Emperor had just ascended to the throne, and the Empress met with such a big mishap. Which aristocratic family did not want to take advantage of this opportunity to squeeze their daughter into the Imperial harem? However, the Emperor had been lying sick in the sleeping chamber. They could not even catch sight of a shred of his robes, let alone see him in person. How could their daughter shower His Majesty with attention then?
They were all waiting for Prince Jiangning’s ruckus to reveal some answers. Only then would they know how the Emperor was doing.
However, the Imperial Guards clearly did not show Prince Jiangning any courtesy and simply dragged him away at once.
In addition to the aristocratic families and nobles, the envoys from the Nan State were also eager to know about Xiao Jin’s situation.
“Your Highness, there’s news from the Jing Prefecture. They say that it’s no longer possible to find her. Think about it. If a person falls from that location, not even an immortal can survive. With the death of the Chu State’s Empress, the Emperor of Chu State has lost a great helper. The kingdom’s strength is weak now. At this point, he definitely won’t dare to fight with the Nan State again. In my humble view, now is a good time to negotiate with the Chu State’s monarch.”
Prince Yu naturally knew that this was a good time to negotiate, but the problem was that they couldn’t get an audience with Xiao Jin at all.
“What exactly is wrong with this Xiao Jin? Why is he sick for so long? Could it be that he is dying? No. We have to find out about his condition somehow. Send someone to spread the news immediately. Say that Xiao Jin is seriously ill and is about to die.” He didn’t believe that those people in the Chu State who hadn’t completely taken sides would be able to stand firm.
The rumors spread quickly among the nobles’ social circles in the capital. Initially, many court ministers did not know what was going on. This time, they could not help but plan for themselves. However, no matter how they planned, they still had to figure out one thing, and that was what exactly was Xiao Jin’s condition.
Early in the morning, the officials went to kneel outside the sleeping chambers in the Imperial Palace. They called out to Xiao Jin not to grieve too much and asked him to show himself. They wanted to know if the rumors outside were true.
Duke Jingguo wanted to stop them, but there were simply too many people clamoring. He could not stop them at all.
Duke Jingguo looked at the tightly shut hall doors and his pair of hoary brows were all knitted together. Today was the deadline that Xiao Jin had agreed with him, but he didn’t know if Xiao Jin had returned.
Duke Jingguo then thought of Su Ying and could only sigh silently. She was indeed a wonder woman who was rarely seen in a hundred years. It was really a pity
“Your Majesty, please do not grieve so much. Now that the Empress is no longer able to return, you must take care of your health, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty, please also show yourself and let us officials feel assured. Otherwise, we won’t dare to leave.”
One after another, they seemed to be concerned about Xiao Jin, and all of them were pressing him to show himself.
“If His Majesty is unwilling to show himself, could it be that His Majesty is not in the palace at all?” At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. It made everyone present quieten down at once.
The minister who spoke seemed to have realized that he had said something wrong. He hurriedly covered his mouth and shook his head, as if trying to indicate that he wasn’t the one who had spoken.
“This can’t be true, can it? Is the Emperor really not in the palace? Then where can the Emperor have gone to?”
The voices of doubt grew louder and louder.
“Today, no matter what, we have to see His Majesty.”
“If the Imperial Guards still dare to stop us, we’ll force our way in.”
Many people became emboldened to stand up and they marched towards the door of the sleeping chamber.
Duke Jingguo was so angry that his eyes became as wide as saucers. “What are you guys waiting for? Hurry up and stop those idiots.”
However, before the ministers could clash with the Imperial Guards, the doors to the sleeping chamber were suddenly flung open. Xiao Jin, who was dressed in a dragon robe, appeared before everyone.
His handsome face was icy, and there was no trace of sorrow in his deep-set eyes. However, his cheeks had become much more gaunt. He did look unwell, but it was completely different from what the rumors said.
At this point, everyone present became confused.
Could it be that the Emperor was really just unwell?
“Just now, who were the ones who wanted to barge into my sleeping chamber?”
The ministers walking in front subconsciously wanted to retreat, but Xiao Jin did not give them the chance to hide.
“Drag away all those who want to barge into my sleeping chamber and cane them to death.” His calm words were filled with a bloodthirsty chilliness.
His words scared the ministers so much that they knelt down and begged for mercy immediately.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me! Please forgive me! Your humble servant and the others only entered the palace to seek an audience because we were worried about Your Majesty’s precious health.”
“That’s right, Your Majesty. Your lowly servant is just worried about Your Majesty…”
Xiao Jin’s eyes were icy cold. “As ministers of the Chu State, you are easily instigated by others and influenced by rumors. What use do I have for you lot? Drag them away.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Imperial Guards stepped forward. A wave of wailing erupted outside the sleeping chamber in the palace..