Chapter 708: Plague
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Luo Huamei and Liu Sanniang got out of the carriage and looked at the palace gate quietly.
The sound of horses galloping could be heard coming from inside the palace. Xia Hongming got off the horse and glanced at Luo Huamei. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Luo Huamei looked at Xia Hongming. “Your Highness, you’ve grown up. I still remember how you looked when you were young.”
Speaking of which, the most successful person in the palace was Xian Fei. She was smart and could actually nurture her son so well under the nose of the fake empress.
Xia Hongming said calmly, “The first prince is in the disciplinary center. I’ll go with you.”
Luo Huamei nodded.
Outside the disciplinary center, it was heavily guarded. When the guard saw Xia Hongming, he said respectfully, “Your Highness.”
Xia Hongming nodded slightly.
No wonder Daoist Yun Guan’s men could not get any information. This disciplinary center was guarded by the Crown Prince’s men. They were all loyal.
The door of the disciplinary center slowly opened.
The group of people walked in. The eunuch bowed and reported, “Your Highness, the First Prince is in the study.”
Because of Xia Hongming’s instructions, no one mistreated Xia Hongyuan anymore. However, Xia Hongyuan could not leave the disciplinary center yet. Other than that, he could do whatever he wanted.
Luo Huamei felt a lump in her throat and tears fell. She gently wiped them away and followed him to the study.
The door was open. When she walked in, she saw a figure in white with one hand behind his back and a pen in the other. His facial features were well-defined.
Luo Huamei gulped, her eyes filled with tears.
Xia Hongyuan seemed to have sensed something. His hand that was holding the pen paused, and the ink dripped on the paper.
He turned around and saw Luo Huamei. There was no excitement or surprise when the mother and son reunited. There was only unfamiliarity and calmness.
Luo Huamei felt terrible. She looked at Xia Hongyuan and said with a trembling voice, “Hongyuan, do you still remember me…”
Xia Hongyuan’s expression was calm. “Mother, it’s good that you are back.”
Liu Sanniang was indeed capable. She said that no one could withstand that kind of heartache, and it was true.
Xia Hongyuan gradually calmed down.
Luo Huamei could not calm down. Her tears were like pearls on a broken string. She looked at Xia Hongyuan and her heart ached by the unfamiliarity in his eyes. She hoped that Xia Hongyuan would be excited and surprised to see her, but the reality was different.
The fake empress had been in Xia Hongyuan’s life for more than ten years until her identity was suddenly exposed. The real empress had returned. This was his mother, but Xia Hongyuan didn’t have much of an emotional fluctuation.
He could not bring himself to be excited, so he just watched Luo Huamei cry quietly.
Xia Hongming looked at Liu Sanniang and asked in a low voice, “Miss Liu, when are you going to do it?”
Now that the real empress had returned and was brought back to the palace by Liu Sanniang, Xia Hongming felt that it was time to solve the crisis at hand.
As long as the empress was still around, she and Xia Hongyuan would have plenty of time to catch up.
Xia Hongyuan looked away calmly.
Luo Huamei’s heart ached. She had many things to say, but at this moment, she could not say a word.
Liu Sanniang said calmly, “There’s no time to lose. Your Majesty, let’s go to the Star Reaching Tower.”
Luo Huamei looked at Xia Hongyuan and said with a trembling voice, “Hongyuan, can you send me off?”
Xia Hongyuan frowned. He looked at Luo Huamei and said, “Mother, I’m tired today. I’ll come to pay my respects to you in the near future.”
Luo Huamei looked at Liu Sanniang in shock. “Miss Liu, don’t 1 have to die?”
Daoist Yun Guan told her that Liu Sanniang wanted to use her life to solve the crisis, so if she went to the palace to see her son, she would be sacrificed.
Liu Sanniang said, “No need. You just have to recuperate well.”
Luo Huamei had mixed feelings. She looked at Liu Sanniang and said, “Daoist Yun Guan wanted to harm you. Previously, I trusted him and wronged you. I’m sorry.”
Looking at Liu Sanniang’s calm expression, Luo Huamei knew that what she said was completely unnecessary because Liu Sanniang knew it.
“Rumble—”
A deafening explosion was heard, making everyone’s expressions change drastically. They ran outside.
The ground under their feet shook a few times, causing everyone to panic.
Xia Hongyuan frowned and shouted at his subordinates, “Go and find out what happened.”
Why did it sound like it came from the Star Reaching Tower?
Xia Hongming was a little nervous and looked at Liu Sanniang. “Miss Liu, 1 think it’s from Star Reaching Tower.”
Liu Sanniang frowned. “Go to Star Reaching Tower and call the emperor too.”
Luo Huamei was shocked. At the moment of the explosion, she pounced on Xia Hongyuan and hugged him tightly to comfort him. “Hongyuan, don’t be afraid.
I will protect you. I will definitely protect you…”
Xia Hongyuan was caught off guard and felt an indescribable shock in his heart. He gently pushed Luo Huamei away and said calmly, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ve already grown up.”
He had grown up and didn’t need protection anymore.
There were so many fake people in this world. No one could be trusted.
Luo Huamei’s eyes welled up with tears. She did not blame Xia Flongyuan. She just felt terrible.
The group of people rushed to the Star Reaching Tower. Along the way, they could hear many people coughing.
Xia Bingguang was carried over. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face was ghastly pale. He was still struggling to open his eyes.
Xian Fei’s eyes were filled with worry. “Your Majesty, don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
The other consorts all had pale faces. It was unknown if they were afraid or worried.
The Star Reaching Tower had collapsed for the second time, and a large portion of the ground had already caved in. The palace maids and eunuchs did not look good. They lowered their heads and did not dare to speak.
Liu Sanniang and the others arrived first.
Liu Sanniang raised her hand and waved it gently. Traces of black smoke were emitting from the center of the Star Reaching Tower and floating into people’s bodies.
Seeing the black smoke enter their bodies with their own eyes, everyone’s expressions were ugly.
Liu Sanniang quickly put her palms together and golden light spread out, enveloping the entire ruins of the Star Reaching Tower. The black smoke was gradually forced back by the golden light.
Xia Hongming heaved a sigh of relief. He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and said, “Miss Liu, why is this happening? What is that black thing?”
Xia Hongming didn’t know how much of the black smoke had entered his body. For some reason, he felt a little uncomfortable and his body was shivering with cold.
Liu Sanniang’s face darkened. She said coldly, “It’s a plague.”
Xia Hongming was stunned. “What plague?”
Liu Sanniang grabbed Luo Huamei’s hand and a drop of blood appeared and flew into the ruins of Star Reaching Tower..