Chapter 59 – 59 57 Concubine’s Grievance

Chapter 59: Chapter 57 Concubine’s Grievance Chapter 59: Chapter 57 Concubine’s Grievance Clutching her stomach accidentally tugged at her wound, causing her to grimace in pain and her brows to furrow tightly together.

Shen Chuwei was the kind who felt unbearably hungry if she missed a meal, and now that she hadn’t eaten for nearly a day, she was so hungry that her stomach felt like it was stuck to her back.

She didn’t have the energy to speak, actually because the injury was too severe and painful.

When Xiao Jinyan heard her say she was hungry, he ordered Qin Xiao, “Go and bring the food over.”

“Yes.” Qin Xiao quickly strode out to follow the command.

In no time at all, he brought the food over and placed it on the low table.

On seeing the food, Shen Chuwei was probably so starving that she forgot about her injuries and couldn’t wait to start eating.

She propped herself up with her hands on the bed, but the movement was a bit too abrupt, and as soon as she exerted force, she aggravated her wound.

The pain made her gasp, and she fell heavily back onto the bed.

“It hurts so much!” The pain brought tears to her eyes, swirling around and causing anyone who saw her to feel pity.

Xiao Jinyan originally planned to help her up, but she was so eager at the sight of food that she moved even faster than he did.

“What’s the rush?”

“I’m starving, Your Highness!” Shen Chuwei said, feeling extremely wronged.

“There’s no need to be in such a hurry,” Xiao Jinyan helped Shen Chuwei sit up, being careful not to pull at her wound.

He also conveniently fetched a couple of soft cushions to prop behind Shen Chuwei.

Once seated, Shen Chuwei endured the pain and picked up the chopsticks.

She looked at the plain congee and small dishes before her; there wasn’t even a hint of meat.

Tears that hadn’t fallen due to the pain now came streaming down.

She had taken an arrow to save Xiao Jinyan; surely, that counted for something.

Shouldn’t she at least be rewarded with some nourishing meat?

Forget meat, she hadn’t even seen a trace of oil or broth.

With tearful eyes, she turned to Xiao Jinyan: “Your Highness, is this all we are eating?”

Xiao Jinyan said, “With your injury, you can only eat something light.”

Shen Chuwei replied, “Your Highness, precisely because I am sick, I should eat something better to nourish my body; only then can I recover swiftly.”

Xiao Jinyan: “Nonsense.”

Still hopeful and with a pitiful look, Shen Chuwei entreated, “Your Highness, could you prepare some Braised Pork as well?

I’ll just eat two pieces.”

Xiao Jinyan’s tone was firm: “No.”

Shen Chuwei stubbornly raised a finger, defiantly indicating, “Even one piece would do.”

Xiao Jinyan, seeing her so pitiful, softened his tone: “Wait until your injury has healed, then you can eat.”

“…Fine!” Shen Chuwei, feeling defeated, let her head droop weakly.

She picked up a radish with her chopsticks and put it into her mouth, then took a sip of the congee.

Her stomach was too hungry, she had no choice but to make do with what was there.

Even without meat, Shen Chuwei finished three bowls of congee.

After she finished eating, Xiao Jinyan laid Shen Chuwei down on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

And because of the severity of her injuries, Shen Chuwei soon fell asleep again.

Xiao Jinyan sat beside the bed for a while, then stood up and left, returning to his own tent.

Deep in the quiet of the night

Several dark figures sneaked into the tent, wielding knives and swords, slowly approaching the bed.

Just as one of the figures raised his knife to strike the bed, he sensed something was off.

Pulling back the blanket, they found two pillows instead.

The figures exchanged glances, realizing they’d been tricked, and were about to retreat when a group of Guards rushed in and surrounded them.

Xiao Jinyan’s tall figure walked into the tent from outside, his gaze coldly sweeping over the figures in black, he commanded in a deep voice, “Leave one alive.”

Qin Xiao and Guard Weichi, swords in hand, were the first to charge at the figures in black.

The figures fought back with their knives.

After a while, the guards finally subdued them.

As the figures were captured, they attempted to bite down on poison and commit suicide, but Qin Xiao and Weichi promptly stopped them.

“Thinking of taking poison to commit suicide?

You wish,” Weichi tightly clutched the figure’s jaw, forcing out the poison.

Out of the four figures in black, two died.

Xiao Jinyan sat down on his throne, his gaze icy as he looked at the two captured figures before him, interrogating them coldly, “Who sent you to assassinate me?”

One of the figures in black snorted, “We won’t talk.

If you have the guts, just kill us.”

Xiao Jinyan’s eyes chilled further, “Do you really think I will let you die that easily?

I have a hundred ways to make you wish for death.”

The figure scoffed disdainfully.

Xiao Jinyan ordered in a cold voice, “Weichi, take them away.

Use whatever means necessary to make them talk.”

“As you command.” Weichi led the figures away.

Meanwhile, inside Prince Yunxuan’s tent.

Xiao Yunxuan paced back and forth in his tent, occasionally glancing towards the entrance with impatience, “Why is there still no news?”

An aide tried to reassure him, “Your Highness, don’t be anxious, we might receive news any moment now.”

Xiao Yunxuan, with a frown, thought about the dire consequences if the assassination attempt had failed and traced back to him.

After an hour with no updates, Xiao Yunxuan knew for certain the assassination had failed.

Agitated and angry, Xiao Yunxuan smashed his teacup to the ground: “A bunch of good-for-nothings.”

The aide consoled him, “Your Highness, being angry now is useless.

They were all sworn to death and will not betray you.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

*

The news of Xiao Jinyan’s injury reached the Emperor, and early in the morning, Xiao Jinyan was summoned by the Emperor.

Upon arrival at the Emperor’s tent, Prince Yunxuan, as well as several other princes, were also present.

Xiao Jinyan stepped forward to pay his respects, “Father Emperor.”

The Emperor, after examining the Crown Prince for a moment, his clothes concealing any signs of injury, asked with concern, “I’ve heard the Crown Prince was injured, is this true?”

Xiao Jinyan bowed slightly, “Father Emperor, while searching for the Blood Phoenix, I did indeed encounter an assassin.

I was injured, but if it hadn’t been for Shen Fengyi risking her life to save me, my condition might have been more severe than mere injuries.”

The Emperor was shocked and quickly inquired, “An assassin?

Why did you not mention this to me yesterday?

Where were you injured?

Is it serious?”

Xiao Yunxuan involuntarily glanced at Xiao Jinyan, his hands inside the sleeves clenching tightly.

The failed assassination was a minor issue, but the fact that Xiao Jinyan had caught the assassins–if they were to divulge anything about him–it would be deeply troubling.

Xiao Jinyan swept his gaze over Xiao Yunxuan, then replied, “Father Emperor, yesterday Fengyi was seriously injured, and I feared alerting the enemy, so I did not tell you.

Last night, I was attacked again and managed to capture two assassins.”

The Emperor furiously demanded, “Where are the assassins?

I want to see who dared to make an attempt on the Crown Prince’s life!”

“Yes,” Xiao Jinyan turned and instructed Qin Xiao, “Bring them here.”

Qin Xiao left and shortly returned, escorting two figures in black to kneel in the center of the hall.

Xiao Jinyan reported, “Father Emperor, there were four assassins in total, two of whom took their own lives with poison.

These are the remaining two.”

The Emperor was enraged, “Who dared to order the assassination of the Crown Prince?”

“It was…” one figure in black glanced at Prince Yunxuan.

Xiao Yunxuan caught the look and glared back, causing the figure to immediately shift his gaze towards the Emperor, “Father Emperor, whoever dared to plot against the Crown Prince cannot be spared.”

The Emperor demanded sternly, “If you confess the mastermind behind this, I can spare your lives.”

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the two kneeling figures in black, glanced at Xiao Yunxuan, and asked in a deep voice, “Speak, who sent you?”