Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

191. Out of Danger

Translator: Bryan

Premonition could be quite occult in some circumstances. Yuxing Tianrui, since his arrival at Yuxing Wei’s palace, had been feeling that something was amiss. And now, after Du Chuxuan reminded him, he naturally got the sense that he was not mistaken and thus was instantly on the alert.

The Emperor, apart from anything else, was a busy man. After instructing the Empress and some others to stay and watch over Yuxing Wei, he left in haste. When Luo Qing and the other physicians walked out, the moon was reaching its zenith. The Empress, exhausted, had been transferred back to her palace. And Noble Lady Xiao, who had passed out, had long since been carried back to her chambers. Du Chuxuan and Yuxing Tianrui were the only ones left now.

A sardonic smile touched Luo Qing’s lips. So this was the so-called imperial family. Ironically, the one lying inside still believed that he was in his father’s good graces. Luo Qing thought, “This guy really has no idea what’s going on around here.” Though seeing it this way, he still had to tell Yuxing Tianrui and the others the truth as he was supposed to do.

“Your Highnesses, the third prince is out of danger now, but I’m afraid he won’t be able to come around anytime soon.” He glanced at those present. Believing that it didn’t matter whether these people heard it or not, he continued, “The wound is very close to the heart. Luckily, they found him in a timely manner.”

“Otherwise, there might have been unimaginable consequences.” He uttered the last few words after a pause. Over the past few hours, he had pulled out all the stops and finally managed to bring Yuxing Wei back from the verge of death. Fortunately, the outcome was the kind that they wanted to see.

Yuxing Tianrui nodded. “I’m afraid I’ll have to put you to the trouble of staying here and watching over my brother. If there’s anything you need, feel free to talk to my men in the East Palace. If I don’t have what you need, I’ll go get it from my father. Just make sure my brother is safe.”

Luo Qing accepted the order, pivoted around and doubled back. Although out of danger now, Yuxing Wei might develop some kind of chronic disease if anything went wrong during the rest cure, and he might even die during the late stage of coma. It was true what they said that a monarch’s company was no less dangerous than a tiger’s. If the third prince didn’t make it, Luo Qing would be partially held accountable.

“All of you are to stay here and take good care of my brother. Double the guard!” Yuxing Tianrui instructed the guards standing on the side, then left with Du Chuxuan. This matter was of great importance. Though having to act like a loving big brother, Yuxing Tianrui felt it inappropriate to send Ada to report to the Emperor, believing that he had to do it personally.

Du Chuxuan returned to the front gate of the East Palace only to find Fang Rui standing in the gateway. “What are you doing here, sis?” Judging from how long it had been, the guests probably had left immediately after being informed of the assassination. Apart from everything else, the third prince being wounded was a serious matter, and its importance outweighed that of concubinage.

“I heard the third prince got wounded. The news filled me with apprehension, so I came here to wait for His Highness and you to return, thinking it’d also allow me to get some first-hand information,” Fang Rui replied matter-of-factly, her eyes full of concern, her face giving little away.

This was what Du Chuxuan found most admirable about her. He wondered who had knocked this woman into shape. It was as if this woman had anticipated everything. After the occurrence of such a serious incident, she, as a woman, had no panic on her face whatsoever. She struck him as a woman not to be trifled with.

Du Chuxuan smiled, “You’re so kind-hearted, sis. I could tell at a glance you’re a meek and soft-hearted woman. Still, there’s no need to concern yourself. Our court physicians have superb medical skills, and this time around, Imperial Doctor Luo personally came here. Our brother-in-law is out of danger now. All he needs is an undisturbed rest cure.”

Du Chuxuan walked around Fang Rui, heading for the gate. When passing Fang Rui, just for an instant, he smelled a faint fragrance. Although it lasted for only a fleeting moment, it made Du Chuxuan’s heart lurch. But when he realized it, the fragrance was gone.

The two of them headed for their respective palaces, talking and laughing along the way. At first glance they had between them what could be deemed a model wife-concubine relationship, with nothing discordant about it. “Dongxiang, anything out of the ordinary happened in the East Palace this afternoon?”

“Your Highness, Princess Fang has been staying in her house the whole afternoon, but her maidservant went outside several times. I had someone tail her. He said she went to make inquiries about the third prince.” Dongxiang quickly reported to Du Chuxuan the information he had collected.

“Princess Fang spent the whole afternoon in her chambers and had only just left with a maidservant. It was as if she’d predicted that you’d return at this hour. She seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time, but in fact, she had only just got there.”

A smile touched Du Chuxuan’s lips in spite of himself at the news. “How very interesting.”

“Keep a close eye on her house. Even if a fly goes into it, I must be informed immediately!” Du Chuxuan snorted coldly. If anybody told him that this Fang Rui woman had nobody at her back, it would be an out-and-out lie. But now, Du Chuxuan wanted to find out who had been so bold as to plant a woman in his house.

Dongxiang, naturally, undertook to get the job done. After giving it some thought, he continued, “Your Highness, this afternoon, after you and His Highness left, General Luo delivered a message here saying that the assassin who made an attempt on the third prince seemed to be from Manlou, but the third prince offered him some help, so there weren’t any signs of struggle left behind whatsoever.”

Du Chuxuan frowned slightly. Seeing as how Luo Yi and the rest were no longer by his side, he had thought that he would have to wait until Luo Yi brought them back before he could look into it. But unexpectedly, they had come to find out about it so soon. He believed that it was probably because the men he’d planted in Yuxing Wei’s house had discovered it.

“Luo Yi returned? He brought that person back?” Du Chuxuan promptly asked, recalling the matter that concerned him the most.

“He said he’d bring the two people here to see you and His Highness tonight. To ensure the security, he’s gone back to check on the two people.” It was after giving him a blow-by-blow account of what Luo Yi had said that Dongxiang felt a sense of relief.

Du Chuxuan inclined his head. “I see. You may leave now.” He had to solve the problem step by step. It struck him that he had a vague lead on each of the matters he was faced with. Currently, he had three or four unlikely clues. It was really not easy to figure out the connection between them.

After a glance at the impenetrable darkness outside the window, he could not help but mumble inwardly, “This Luo Yi guy is unreliable as well. It’s so late now. How much longer does he wanna wait?”