amaotonovel Chapter 408
Chapter 408
"Then I'll play along with him. Let's first contact those martial arts forces who are dissatisfied with my brother. With their support, our chances of winning will be much greater." The names of some martial arts sects floated into his mind. Those sects had long-standing grudges with the imperial court. If he could get their help, it would definitely be like adding wings to a tiger.
Meanwhile, Ye Jingchu was also secretly meeting with several high-ranking ministers in the court. In the dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows. Ye Jingchu sat in the main seat, his expression solemn. Looking at the ministers before him, he said sincerely, "My lords, I am the rightful Crown Prince. How can that incompetent new Crown Prince shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the realm?"
An old minister frowned, stroking his beard, and hesitated, saying, "Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance. We must consider it carefully. If we act rashly, we risk our lives." The old minister's eyes were full of worry. He knew all too well the cruelty of court intrigue; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Upon seeing this, Ye Jing took out a list from his robes, filled with people who were dissatisfied with the new crown prince. He stood up, walked to the old minister, and handed him the list. "My lord," he said, "look, so many people in the court still support me. As long as we work together, what is there to worry about in achieving great things?" His eyes were full of expectation and determination, hoping to persuade the old minister.
On their way to contact various martial arts factions, Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er were ambushed by a group of mysterious assassins. They were in a dense forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves and dappling the ground. The assassins, dressed in black, swarmed from all sides, surrounding Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er. Their martial arts were superb, and their teamwork was impeccable; Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er were locked in a fierce battle. Ye Jiuchen wielded a longsword, his sword flashing, each move incredibly sharp; Dongfang Wan'er was equally formidable, wielding a soft whip, standing back-to-back with Ye Jiuchen, jointly defending against the assassins' attacks. As Ye Jiuchen fought back, he pondered: were these assassins sent by his elder brother, or had Ye Jingchu discovered his plan and acted prematurely? He knew this battle would be exceptionally difficult; he had to find their weakness as soon as possible to break through the encirclement.
The night was as black as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve. All was silent except for the whistling wind that swept past his ears, like a hidden assassin lurking in the darkness, waiting for its chance to strike. In that instant when Ye Jiuchen's attention was diverted, his gaze was drawn to a fleeting light or shadow in the distance. A question flashed through his mind, and this momentary lapse in concentration became his fatal weakness.
An assassin, lurking in the shadows like a phantom in the night, seized this fleeting opportunity. A flash of cold light appeared in his hand as he stabbed without hesitation into Ye Jiuchen's unsuspecting back. The cold light gleamed in the night, carrying a chilling killing intent, and was about to touch Ye Jiuchen's body.
Dongfang Wan'er remained highly vigilant. A glimpse of that deadly glint in the corner of her eye sent a jolt through her. Without a second thought, she whirled around, her wrist flicking, and her soft whip shot out like a serpent, tracing a graceful yet sharp arc in the air before precisely ensnaring the assassin's blade. Then, her eyebrows furrowed, her teeth clenched, and with a sharp cry, she lashed out with all her might. The assassin, already slender, was flung several meters away like a kite with a broken string under Dongfang Wan'er's powerful pull, crashing heavily to the ground and raising a cloud of dust.
"Don't get distracted!" Dongfang Wan'er's voice rang out in the night sky, carrying a hint of anxiety and worry, reaching Ye Jiuchen's ears. Ye Jiuchen instantly snapped back to reality, a wave of annoyance and self-reproach washing over him. He took a deep breath, his sword flashing with a few sword flourishes, his swordsmanship suddenly becoming even more ferocious. Each move carried the force of a whirlwind, its cold light flashing, deterring the surrounding assassins from approaching easily.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a melodious flute tune drifted faintly from afar. The flute music flowed gently through the tense atmosphere like a clear spring, carrying a strange magic. Upon hearing the flute, the assassins' previously agile movements suddenly slowed, as if frozen in place, each movement becoming heavy and difficult.
Ye Jiuchen keenly sensed this change. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he suddenly shouted, and his sword, like a dragon emerging from the sea, broke through the assassins' encirclement with its powerful and sweeping movements, rushing towards the direction from which the flute sound came.
His figure moved like a black lightning bolt in the night, appearing in an instant beneath a large tree. There stood a man in white, bathed in moonlight, his body gleaming with a silvery light, like a celestial being descended to earth. The flute music emanated from his lips.
"Who are you? Why are you helping us?" Ye Jiuchen looked at the man in white warily, his sword still raised, the tip slightly lowered, ready to deal with any unexpected situation. His eyes revealed a hint of doubt and vigilance; in this volatile situation, every stranger could be a potential threat.
The man in white put away his flute, a faint smile appearing on his face, a smile as warm as the spring sun, bringing a sense of comfort. "I am a descendant of the Valley of Healers," he said slowly, his voice gentle and refined, "I know about your affairs. The new crown prince's policies after his ascension to the throne are beneficial to the people, and I will not let your conspiracy succeed. Today is merely a warning to you; go back."
Ye Jiuchen was furious. He had thought the operation was foolproof, but unexpectedly, a shrew had appeared out of nowhere and ruined his plans. However, he was also wary of the white-clad man's methods; the eerie flute music could instantly incapacitate the assassins, indicating the man's unfathomable strength. Weighing his options, he could only suppress his anger and turn to leave with Dongfang Wan'er.
Meanwhile, in the magnificent palace, Ye Jingchu sat on the dragon throne, a smug smile on his face. After days of persuasion and scheming, he had finally convinced most of the ministers, secretly pleased with himself, feeling that the throne was within reach. However, just as he was immersed in the joy of his impending success, a guard rushed in and whispered a few words in his ear.
Ye Jingchu's face instantly turned extremely gloomy. His hands gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. The news of Ye Jiuchen's failed attack was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the joy in his heart. He took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and looked out at the night sky. He understood that the road to seizing the throne was still very long.