novelraw Chapter 425 - 320: Enraged
Chapter 425 - 320: Enraged
Rong Jing, not wearing a poison-repelling sachet?
Gu Lan struggled to lift her head, gazing at Rong Jing’s expression.
He was wearing a dark golden dragon robe, his hair crown untied, ink-black hair cascading to his waist, spread like thick ink, his narrow almond eyes glinting with frost, yet Gu Lan couldn’t detect the slightest discomfort from his expression.
Zhang Fengcai, wearing a poison-repelling sachet, couldn’t control his profuse sweating, his expression slightly twisted, his face flushed red.
In contrast, aside from his face being pale and colorless, Rong Jing showed no unusual signs.
Even for herself...
Even for someone like Gu Lan, who had once been an assassin and endured torturous training far worse than this, the sudden scent of Heart-devouring Incense, even though her brain could quickly tell her it was just a psychological illusion, her body would still temporarily lose control, breaking out in cold sweat all over.
The moment when her kneecap hit the ground during the fall almost shattered her leg, yet now, on the surface, the Heart-devouring Incense had already taken away her spirit and will, and she couldn’t show that she felt the pain in her knee.
Gu Lan’s hand gripped tightly onto the ground, blood seeping from the gaps of her nails, her consciousness gradually returning, regaining control over her body.
This thing is more like a metaphysical mental attack, stimulating the brain to make one think their bones are shattering, but as long as one’s will is strong enough, they can resist this paradox—because her body was not actually injured.
Gu Lan didn’t reveal that she had already overcome the effects of the Heart-devouring Incense, still lying on the ground, trembling, contemplating her next move.
But there was one thing she was very puzzled about—
She could quickly adapt to this pain and neutralize the effects of the incense with her past assassin experience, but Rong Jing, being an emperor, once a noble Crown Prince, how did he manage it?
Even with the most effective poison-repelling sachet, in an environment saturated with fragrance, it’s impossible to appear completely normal, and Rong Jing hadn’t undergone modern professional training like she had... It leaves just one last possibility:
His spirit had long been numb, accustomed to the pain brought by Heart-devouring Incense.
The surprise that flashed through Gu Lan’s eyes did not escape Rong Jing’s notice.
He stood a zhang away from Gu Lan, still looking down on her, his hoarse voice seemed to come from an endless abyss, with a mocking tone:
"Painful, isn’t it? This pain is but one ten-thousandth of what I endured in my childhood... Gu Lan, for taking away Rong Heng’s, this is what you deserve, this is the price for provoking Rong Heng!"
In childhood... Gu Lan lowered her eyebrows, eyes filled with astonishment.
Rong Jing actually grew up amidst Heart-devouring Incense? Isn’t this thing meant for breeding Death Warriors? Gu Lan recalled that the Yongming Palace had once been Empress Dowager Su’s chambers, also Rong Jing’s residence as a child, gradually understanding.
How much Heart-devouring Incense would one have to smell as a child to become as calm as a still water... Why would Su Xinyu treat her own son so cruelly?
Gu Lan tremblingly supported herself on her arms, staring at him with a mocking curve on her lips:
"Prince Xiang isn’t anyone’s possession, how could I take him away, and besides... I have no relation with him, Rong Jing, if you fear my father and want to deal with the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, just say so, why bring up Rong Heng?"
Her visit to see Rong Jing was more than just to provoke him and clear up her doubts; she also wanted to know if Rong Jing truly believed she was with Rong Heng.
The news during the Southern Border conflicts wasn’t accurate, at most, she shared an embrace with Rong Heng born of camaraderie in battle. Later, Rong Heng’s ennoblement was meant to maintain balance, and she went to the brothel for entertainment her first moment back in the capital. Only very few knew about the matters of the Marquis Mansion, and Miaoyan wouldn’t speak of it. All that Rong Jing could ascertain were ambiguous rumors...
How was he certain she was with Rong Heng and not toying with his younger brother’s feelings... um, the latter would indeed be damnable.
Rong Jing hesitated slightly, seemingly not expecting Gu Lan to still be able to speak complete words in such pain.
His gaze shifted unpredictably, landing on Gu Lan’s waist.
Gu Lan’s heart sank, knowing the madman was about to act.
Zhang Fengcai followed suit, realizing what the Emperor intended, immediately stepped forward, harshly ripping the foldable fan pinned at her waist.
He unfolded the fan, lowered his head to sniff the scent on the folded fan, and respectfully presented it to Rong Jing, saying,
"Your Majesty, this fan and the Xiu jade are infused with the herbs of Clearing Mind, likely a self-defense measure given to her by the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion."