Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 761 - 757: Assassination Attempt

Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

You Lan, seeing him like this, quickly said, "Maybe there’s been a mistake."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile, "At the time, there was no one delivering the decree; it must have been Uncle Fifteen and the others who found a way to block it. Heh, my Father..."

Not as good as Uncle Fifteen and Uncle Six.

The moment he sees his mistake, he immediately applies punishment, conveying a sense of urgency.

Really beyond words.

You Lan wisely changed the topic, smiling, "Is everything going well, Your Highness?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Very good."

The harvest this time could be described as vast.

The soul had reached its limit, and now he still felt a bit dizzy.

He hadn’t told anyone about this situation, not even Chu Honglin.

While he could openly share about the Realm and ask for advice on cultivation doubts, this matter was not suitable to talk about extensively.

This was what his instinct told him.

The transformation of the soul needed to be kept secret, more so kept secret.

After being attended to for washing by the three women of Xiao Zhu, he sat at the stone table in the small pavilion.

Just about to eat, Li Yuzhen and Fu Zheng came together seeking an audience.

Chu Zhiyuan allowed them to come in.

As they entered the courtyard, they were like one green and one white beautiful flower blooming before him.

Only, both women’s beautiful faces were shrouded in heaviness and solemnity.

"Prince Consort," Li Yuzhen’s jade-like face was tense, her eyes burning, "Your Highness is in trouble!"

Chu Zhiyuan was startled, "What happened?"

"Your Highness was ambushed, seriously wounded, and is dying!"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

He directed his gaze towards Fu Zheng.

Fu Zheng nodded lightly, "News also came from Qianji Tower, confirming this news."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Did her whereabouts get leaked?"

The moment he heard of the assassination, he thought of this scenario.

Just like his situation before, both were leaked whereabouts followed by an assassination.

Li Yuzhen sighed lightly and shook her head, "Your Highness’s whereabouts shouldn’t have been leaked."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Because the guards are loyal to the core?"

Li Yuzhen replied, "There’s no doubt about the guards’ loyalty, and Your Highness brought very few guards, so there shouldn’t be any problems."

"We’ll investigate this slowly," Chu Zhiyuan said, "How is she now? If she’s seriously injured and on the brink of death, does it mean her life is saved?"

"For now, her life is saved," Li Yuzhen said solemnly, "But..."

"Speak clearly in one go, how exactly is she, and who did the assassination?"

"Your Highness was ambushed by the combined forces of the Demon Clan and the Demon Clan on her return journey, used a secret technique to escape back to the Imperial City, and is now in critical condition. The Spiritual Medicine keeps her barely hanging on, but it won’t last long."

"Is the Great Bright Heart Protecting Pill also used?"

"Both the Phoenix Nirvana Pill and the Great Bright Heart Protecting Pill have been used."

"The Phoenix Nirvana Pill is not an ordinary Spiritual Medicine, and it didn’t work?"

"These medicines can only keep Your Highness’s life hanging by a thread but cannot cure her."

"Then how can she be cured?"

"...That, we don’t know, nor do we know if she can be cured."

Li Yuzhen’s jade-like face was tense, her red lips pursed, her eyes flickering with worry.

Chu Zhiyuan sat up straight, leaned forward, and said slowly, "So, if it weren’t for the Great Bright Heart Protecting Pill and the Phoenix Nirvana Pill keeping her alive, she would die?"

"...Yes." Li Yuzhen slowly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Doesn’t she have a trace of Divine Race bloodline? Even with that, she can’t save herself?"

Li Yuzhen shook her head.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed contemplative, sinking into thought.

Li Yuzhen looked at the ground in low spirits, while Fu Zheng stared at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan had a serious expression, his eyes flickering.

Fu Zheng was very curious about Chu Zhiyuan’s current state of mind, whether it was disappointment, worry, or relief?

It was probably a bit of everything.

If the Twelfth Princess really died, then this marriage would be canceled.

Would he still enter the Prince Consort Mansion?

If he’s not the Prince Consort, would he have to go to Phoenix Imperial City as a Hostage?

Compared to being a Prince Consort, being a mere Hostage might be harder or possibly easier?

Hardly anyone can say for sure.

After all, the Twelfth Princess is both beautiful and talented, with countless admirers.

Being her Prince Consort would attract the resentment and ire of many young men, causing him trouble.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "This message was passed on by her herself, right?"

Li Yuzhen nodded, "It was Your Highness herself who sent it."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What does she want me to do?"

"Your Highness feels she can’t hold on much longer, so she... wants the Prince Consort to visit."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Does she still want to get married to alleviate some of the misfortune?"

The Twelfth Princess and he shared no feelings; they were only betrothed in name.

At the brink of death, she still wants to see him?

It must be due to political matters rather than any form of romantic or marital affection.

Li Yuzhen looked at Chu Zhiyuan with dissatisfaction, "Does the Prince Consort not want to see Your Highness?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "There must be a reason, right?"

"Is there no reason to go?" Li Yuzhen huffed.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile, "Rest assured, she doesn’t look like someone with a short life, she won’t die."

Li Yuzhen, annoyed, said, "Prince Consort, don’t you care a bit about Your Highness?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "In this world, when it comes to being concerned for her, I’d rank in the top five."

Without Li Miaotan, he would still have to go to the Phoenix Dynasty; his situation within the Phoenix Imperial City would become more difficult.

So he concerns himself most with whether Li Miaotan will die.

Li Yuzhen pursed her red lips.

She was very disappointed with Chu Zhiyuan’s response.

Hearing that Li Miaotan was ambushed and gravely injured, he didn’t show any signs of grief or sadness.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’ve survived a great disaster, and she, as a princess of the Phoenix Dynasty, with a trace of Divine Race bloodline, surely she will have no problem."

"Then I’ll take your auspicious words, Prince Consort."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered, "Does she want me to go quietly, or with great fanfare?"

Li Yuzhen perked up and quickly said, "Your Highness wishes to request the Prince Consort to go quietly, without being discovered."

"And why is that?" Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Afraid that further assassination attempts will follow me? ...First the Demon Clan tried to kill me, then the Demon Clan and Demon Clan together tried to kill her. Are they determined to stop us from getting married?"

He immediately linked these two assassination attempts together, sensing a conspiracy.

Even if they got married, it wouldn’t change the relationship between the Yujing Dynasty and the Phoenix Dynasty.

There would never be eternal peace; within a few years, war would break out again.

So why are they so determined to stop him and Li Miaotan from marrying?

Could it be that their marriage is related to something big or some hidden matters?

Li Yuzhen was looking down at the ground, her expression low, while Fu Zheng kept his eyes on Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face was serious, his eyes flickering with thought.

Fu Zheng was curious about Chu Zhiyuan’s current feelings; was it disappointment, worry, or relief?

Perhaps it was a bit of everything.

If the Twelfth Princess really died, then this marriage would be off.

Would he still have to go to the Phoenix Imperial City to be a Hostage?

Compared to being a Prince Consort, would being just a Hostage make his situation more difficult or possibly easier?

Few could say for sure.

After all, the Twelfth Princess is both beautiful and talented, with countless admirers.

As her Prince Consort, he would be resented and angered by many young men, causing trouble for him.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "She sent you with this message, right?"

Li Yuzhen nodded, "Yes, Your Highness himself conveyed it."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What does she want me to do?"

"Your Highness feels she can’t hold on much longer, so she... wants the Prince Consort to go see her."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Does she want us to get married to change her luck?"

The Twelfth Princess doesn’t have any feelings for me; we’re just betrothed in name only.

In her last moments, she still wants to see me?

It can only be for political matters, not out of romantic or even marital feelings.

Li Yuzhen looked at Chu Zhiyuan with discontent, "Prince Consort, don’t you want to see Your Highness?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Shouldn’t there be a reason?"

"You won’t go if there’s no reason?" Li Yuzhen snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile, "Don’t worry, she doesn’t have the face of someone with a short life, she won’t die."

Li Yuzhen looked angrily at Chu Zhiyuan, "Prince Consort, don’t you care about Your Highness?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "In this world, when it comes to caring about her, I’m at least in the top five."

Without Li Miaotan, I’d also have to go to the Phoenix Dynasty and stay in the Phoenix Imperial City as a Hostage.

Compared to being a Prince Consort, just being a Hostage might be more challenging or perhaps easier?

Hardly anyone could say for sure.

Outside, a guard suddenly reported that the Grand Eunuch had arrived.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand languidly, "Aunt, go and show him in."

In a moment, the gentle and jade-like manager of Jiaming Palace, Xu Qingyun, entered.

He came alone, smiling as he clasped his fists in salute, "Ninth Prince, this old servant pays his respects."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "Old Xu, there’s no need for formalities, what does Father want?"

Xu Qingyun, smiling, gave a deep bow and handed a letter to Chu Zhiyuan, then withdrew and left.