Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor

Chapter 716 - 208: Forced Marriage (Part 2)

"Crown Prince, there is no need for such formalities; we are all family here. I wonder what pressing matter brings you to visit the Imperial Palace at night," seeing Dugu Xiu in such a manner, the Eastern Lord felt displeasure, yet it was not appropriate for him to show it.

"Oh, the Empress Dowager and the Eastern Lord have confirmed that the Princess is merely ill and cannot meet with this humble official,"

"You! Dugu Xiu, do not push people too far," watching as the maid posing as Donghuang Lingling was dragged out.

The Empress Dowager and the Eastern Lord’s expressions changed drastically.

They hadn’t expected that Prince Dugu Xiu of Later Qin would disregard his dignity and cause a disturbance within the Eastern Imperial Palace.

"Crown Prince, please calm your anger," Empress Dowager Situ begged anxiously. The Eastern Lord, regardless of everything, charged forward.

But his frail figure meant nothing before Dugu Xiu. "This humble official heard that the Princess has contracted a strange illness that hasn’t healed for many months. I am very concerned, so I have specially brought a Doctor and some precious medicinal materials, hoping to help the Princess," Dugu Xiu explained his purpose calmly and unhurriedly.

After Dugu Xiu spoke, a Doctor stepped forward from behind him; this person was indeed the Great National Doctor Cheng from Later Qin.

Following Cheng Daguoshou, several attendants also carried boxes of precious Medicinal Herbs.

Indeed, their appearance seemed genuinely meant for a medical visit.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager Situ and the Eastern Lord broke out in a cold sweat.

The maid pretending to be the "Princess" was actually not sick at all. If Cheng Daguoshou were to diagnose her, wouldn’t the truth be exposed?

With the Eastern Lord being young and unable to withstand Dugu Xiu’s aggressive demeanor, he became somewhat incoherent: "Prince Dugu is too polite. My sister’s illness is not serious, there is no need to trouble Cheng Daguoshou."

"Oh, if it is nothing serious, then allow this humble official to meet her. Dugu has long admired the Princess and it is indeed time to meet her," Dugu Xiu saw the Eastern Lord’s timid demeanor and became even more convinced of the words previously spoken by the East Capital Left Minister.

Indeed, the Princess of the Eastern Capital was not in the capital city.

"Your Highness!" Empress Dowager Situ also felt a chill, being experienced from the rise and fall of the Donghuang Dynasty, she was much steadier than the Eastern Lord. In her urgency, she devised a quick plan.

"With such generosity from the Crown Prince, having invited the Great National Doctor of Later Qin to travel a long distance, please allow the Crown Prince to enter the palace and treat my son."

After speaking, Empress Dowager Situ secretly exchanged a look with a female official beside her, who understood and stealthily slipped out.

The group immediately went to Donghuang Lingling’s chambers.

Inside the palace, pink curtains hung low, and a slender figure could vaguely be seen sitting under the curtain.

"Thank you, Prince Dugu, for coming from afar. Lingling is unwell and cannot personally receive you, which I regret deeply," a female voice came from inside, polite and somewhat moving.

"Princess, you are too polite, there is no need for such formalities between us. Cheng Daguoshou, please go ahead and treat the Princess," Dugu Xiu, seeing the pink of the palace, was already fed up.

Cheng Daguoshou stepped forward to examine the "Princess".

The "Princess" hesitated, then extended a hand from behind the curtain.

The hand was thin and delicate, overly pale, clearly belonging to someone frequently ill.

But just as the "Princess’s" hand had emerged, Dugu Xiu, who had been standing aside, stepped forward, suddenly grabbed the hand, and pulled forcefully.

A girl dressed in the "Princess’s" clothes was dragged out and fell heavily to the ground.

The girl’s face turned pale with fright.

"Prince Dugu! What are you doing?" Empress Dowager Situ and the Eastern Lord had not anticipated that Prince Dugu would suddenly become hostile.

"A fake and still hoping to deceive me? Heavenly Empress, Eastern Lord, do you see? Is this what the Princess is supposed to look like?" Dugu Xiu’s face clouded with gloom as he gripped the chin of the so-called "Princess".

Empress Dowager Situ and the Eastern Lord knew that Dugu Xiu must have seen through the impersonation of the Princess.

Still, both harbored a sliver of hope, Empress Dowager Situ squeezed out a smile: "Crown Prince, you really do jest. She is naturally my daughter."

"Oh?" Dugu Xiu applied more strength in his hand, and the fake Princess felt her jaw about to be crushed, her eyes widened in terror.

"I ask you, are you Donghuang Lingling? If you utter half a lie, do not blame me, the Crown Prince, for being unkind," Dugu Xiu stood like a defiant Wolf King, his towering figure casting a shadow over everyone present like dark clouds.

Even though this was the Eastern Imperial Palace, no member of the Imperial Guard dared to intervene.

Despair slowly spread in the hearts of the Eastern Lord and Empress Dowager Situ as they involuntarily leaned on each other.

The fake Princess was so frightened that she could no longer speak, her once beautiful face now marred by fear alone.

"Spare me, Your Highness, I am just a maid,"

No sooner had she spoken than the sound of her jaw shattering echoed.

Empress Dowager Situ let out a tragic cry.

Seeing the fake Princess had already stopped breathing, Dugu Xiu flung the corpse against the palace wall, where her blood splattered bright red against the bricks.

Throughout the process, Dugu Xiu did not even frown; killing an insignificant maid was as simple for him as stepping on an ant.

From his cold, thin lips, he uttered a sentence that made Empress Dowager Donghuang and the Eastern Lord tremble: "Such disloyal servants, I have helped the Empress Dowager and the Eastern Lord deal with her."

Despite his youth, the Eastern Lord, seeing Dugu Xiu commit murder in the Eastern Palace, trembled with rage.

He disregarded the height difference between himself and Dugu Xiu, rushed forward, grabbed Dugu Xiu’s collar, and hissed, "Dugu Xiu, you are too presumptuous, how dare you commit violence in the Eastern Palace!"

"Eastern Lord, mind your words. I merely killed an assassin posing as the Princess. What’s important now is to find the real Princess, ensure her safety, and see her safely married into Later Qin. Only then, an alliance between Later Qin and the Eastern Capital can be solidified," Dugu Xiu looked disdainfully at this frail, pale Emperor.

Though they were about the same age.

This youth, overly shielded by the Eastern Imperial Family, appeared as fragile as a woman.

His skin was fair, lips pale, looking just like a sickly young girl.

The Eastern Lord’s head only reached his shoulder, and his hand grabbing the collar still trembled.

Dugu Xiu swept off the Eastern Lord’s hand with a movement.

The fierce fighting spirit made the Eastern Lord stagger back and fall to the ground.

"Someone! Anyone! Drive this rebellious traitor out!"

The Eastern Lord’s shouts echoed in the desolate Eastern Palace.

All those Imperial Guards, and the palace maids and eunuchs, all bowed their heads, like ostriches, none daring to step forward to protect their master.

Empress Dowager Situ and the Eastern Lord felt an unprecedented loneliness, this splendid palace now felt like an oppressive tomb about to bury mother and son alive.