The Phoenix Arises

Chapter 23.2: Assassination

Huangfu Che finally managed to regain his senses and he was barely able to contain his excitement as he asked in a soft whisper: “Is that true? Is that really true? Little Xi is…..” [Finally coming back?]

“It’s true! I received news that Little Xi is now at the Border Gate Town. But there is also a young youth together with her…..”

“This is really great. I am going to the Border Gate Town to bring Little Xi back to the palace myself.”

Huangfu Che had completely disregarded the second half of the statement Duanmu Xue had said, his face filled with unconcealed excitement.

“You want to go there personally?”

Duanmu Xue furrowed up her brows.

Huangfu Che’s eyebrow lifted up and a glint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

“What? Are you thinking that I am one of these men here in the Vermillion Bird Kingdom again? Keep in mind that I am nothing like those weak and delicate men here.”

[….. Where did that come from? She has never once thought of him as one of the Vermillion Bird’s men.]

“Alright. I’ll get Thirteenth and Fifteenth to accompany you as well. Little Xi must return back safely.”

“Rest assured. She will.”

And Huangfu Che then planted a light kiss on Duanmu Xue’s forehead.

——

“What?”

An explosive holler sounded in the study of the Vermillion Bird’s Duke Jing’s Manor, which startled the crows on the branches of a tree outside the window into flight.

“Do you really know what you are saying?”

Duanmu Qing screamed as she grabbed onto the black robed woman kneeling on the ground before her, shaking her violently.

The black robed woman was so frightened by Duanmu Qing’s maniacal actions that she did not dare to move at all.

Duanmu Shuang was taken back in shock when she saw Duanmu Qing’s reaction and she immediately stopped he.

“Little Qing, calm yourself down a little.”

“Calm? How do you expect me to be calm? I saw her jump into the endless sea myself! And now, how has she come to appear here in the Border Gate Town? How…..”

Duanmu Qing’s eyes were red with rage. She swept everything off the table and they all crashed noisily onto the floor, the study immediately an disorderly mess.

“You’re dismissed for now.”

Duamu Shuang said as she flapped her sleeve at the black robed woman.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The black robed woman than dashed out of the study like she was running away.

‘Piak!’

Glaring at Duanmu Qing who was still venting out her tantrum, Duanmu Shuang whipped her hand out across Duamu Qing’s face with a slap.

“See what you look like right now! What are you even doing? You think you will be able to inherit the kingdom’s reign like this?”

“Inherit the reign?” Duanmu Qing tilted her head, and the corners of her lips curling up in a self mocking smile.

“I was not able to inherit the reign even when that useless Duanmu Xi was thought to be dead and now that the useless piece of trash has come back, what chances could I possibly still have of taking the throne?”

“You have called her a useless piece of trash yourself. If we were able to kill her once, then we will be able to kill her a second time. What? Are you going give up just like that?”

Like a single word that startled a person awake from his dreams, Duanmu Qing felt as if she had been injected with fresh chicken blood, her fighting spirit all restored.