Chapter 12: Chapter 185: The Guanju Palace is on Fire!

Chapter 185: Guanju Palace is on Fire!

Guanju Palace is on fire!

"Stop fighting for the throne. Let's leave together, shall we?" Duan Zirou knew this was an extravagant request, but she couldn't help but say it. As long as she remained in this place of turmoil within the Imperial City, she could not find peace for even a moment.

"Zixiao will temporarily give up the throne... Zirou, come back with me." Ye Zixiao pulled Duan Zirou into a light embrace, his voice as gentle as water.

Her heart cooled instantly. Duan Zirou indifferently pulled away from Ye Zixiao's embrace, her eyes cold and emotionless.

"The throne or Zirou—you can only choose one. If you cannot give up imperial power, then let Zirou stay here to live out her days in peace. Do not appear to me again in the future. At least then, Zirou won't have to live in fear for your sake." Duan Zirou heard the implication in Ye Zixiao's words and immediately responded with coldness.

"Zirou, believe in your husband. One day, I will replace Ye Hongyi and become a dragon among men!" Ye Zixiao stepped forward excitedly, intending to pull Duan Zirou into his arms. Suddenly, he felt a chilling sensation behind him. As he spun around abruptly, a freezing dagger was already before his face. Ye Zixiao flicked his sleeve sharply, and the dagger slammed violently into the white jade ancient zither.

"It is not impossible for Prince Jing to become a dragon among men, but it truly won't be easy. Of course, if Prince Jing is long-lived enough to outlive Ye Hongyi through sheer attrition, there will still be a great opportunity. However, Jingxin has heard that Ye Hongyi is currently consuming an elixir of immortality. Whether Prince Jing can outlive Ye Hongyi remains to be seen!" Standing there under the elegant moonlight, Yao Mowan stood clad in a black robe. The night wind brushed through her ink-black hair, creating tiny ripples, and the black veil over her face made her appear mysterious and unpredictable.

"Who are you?" Ye Zixiao looked at Yao Mowan warily, his body instinctively shielding Duan Zirou.

"In the past, whenever someone asked that, Jingxin would say it doesn't matter who I am. But since Prince Jing asks, Jingxin can tell you: it matters very much. As long as I am here, Prince Jing will never sit upon the dragon throne in this lifetime, because the wise ruler in Jingxin's eyes is someone else entirely." Yao Mowan spoke without restraint, her momentum unstoppable.

Even though he could not sense Yao Mowan's internal strength, Ye Zixiao was still shaken by the aura radiating from her. With just those eyes alone, he found it difficult to resist; he didn't even dare to meet her gaze, for the sharpness in those eyes seemed to possess the power to destroy everything, sending a chill to the depths of his soul.

"On what grounds are you so certain?" Ye Zixiao suppressed his guilt and barked angrily.

"On the grounds that when Prince Jing left, Jingxin hid several forged letters detailing correspondence between Prince Jing and Yao Zhenting within the Prince's Manor. If Jingxin hasn't guessed wrong, those letters have already fallen into Ye Hongyi's hands. It seems the Prince will not be returning to his manor anytime soon." Yao Mowan smiled wickedly. Using Yao Zhenting's rebellion as an opportunity to ensnare Ye Zixiao was a scheme she had long prepared. As the saying goes, "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." Yao Mowan's original target was Ye Zixiao, and now her mission was complete.

"What! The Emperor won't believe it!" Ye Zixiao's heart jolted, his sword-like brows knitting tightly together.

"Whether the Emperor believes it is one thing; whether he pretends to believe it is another. Prince Jing holds a transcendent position in the court. If he can use this opportunity to eliminate his greatest threat, do you think Ye Hongyi would choose not to believe? Or would he choose to pretend to believe!" Yao Mowan struck the nail on the head. In truth, the moment Yao Mowan mentioned the forged letters, Ye Zixiao knew he had missed a crucial detail and that his momentum had vanished.

"Who are you doing this for?" Ye Zixiao stared at the woman before him, questioning her coldly. At this moment, he suddenly felt as though he were being used as a chess piece.

"Jingxin can only tell Prince Jing that even if Jingxin had not acted this time, Prince Jing would not have achieved his wishes. The struggle for the succession of the Five Dragons was how tragic? To be able to survive amidst those surging waves of blood, how could Ye Hongyi be an ordinary man? With only the military force in your hands, you are fundamentally unable to resist the Iron-Blooded Legion that Ye Hongyi has privately trained!" Yao Mowan spoke with disdain.

"The Iron-Blooded Legion?" Ye Zixiao's eyes filled with astonishment as he looked at Yao Mowan in confusion.

"So the Prince hasn't even heard of it. Very well, Jingxin has said all she can. Farewell." As Yao Mowan turned to leave, she suddenly saw Ye Zixiao lift his sleeve. In the next second, Yin Xue was already standing before her, three silver needles held between her fingers.

"An undercover guard with such skill—you are certainly no ordinary lady. I wonder, is the person you wish to protect Ye Junqing?" Given his low status, no amount of silver could hire a top-tier undercover guard. This woman in night-traveling attire was clearly on a different level.

"Since the Prince has already been eliminated from the game, the matters within the game no longer concern him. Instead of gazing at distant mountains with empty longing, it is better to cherish the person before you. Prince, take care of yourself." Yao Mowan's eyes were as sharp as blades, her words carrying a warning.

After Yao Mowan left, Ye Zixiao couldn't help but let out a long sigh. It was better to have no way back; at least Zirou was still by his side.

On the fifth day after the Yao Prime Minister's manor was raided, the Prince Jing's manor was also seized. However, the Prince had gone missing the night before the raid and had remained missing ever since.

One wave had barely subsided before another rose. Just on the second day after Ye Zixiao's matter had settled, Guanju Palace suddenly caught fire. The entire east wing looked like a massive fireball, flames soaring into the sky and raging in the wind.

"Why aren't they out yet? No, I must go in!" Looking at the sky full of fire, Yao Mowan was anxious to the point of burning. The silk handkerchief in her hand had long since been crumpled into a mess. Seeing Yao Mowan attempting to rush in, Ting Yue desperately grabbed her to hold her back.

"My Lady! The fire is too big, you cannot go in! Liu Xing has already taken men to rescue the Prince; Prince Su will surely be fine!" As Ting Yue struggled to stop her, Liu Xing emerged from the flames, carrying Ye Junqing on his back.

"Liu Xing, how is he?" Seeing Liu Xing emerge, Yao Mowan rushed forward, her steps inexplicably weak and unsteady, nearly causing her to fall. Her expression was one of deep terror amidst her anxiety.

"Rest assured, My Lady, the Prince is fine!" Liu Xing strode into the main hall of Guanju Palace, placing Ye Junqing on a lounge chair. Yao Mowan ran in after him, while Ting Yue stayed outside to pull the door shut, preventing those coming to fight the fire from discovering anything suspicious.

"Is he... is he asleep?" Aside from his face being slightly blackened by soot, his hair being somewhat singed, and the corners of his clothes being burned through, Ye Junqing's breathing was steady and his expression was calm. In particular, Ye Junqing's subconscious movement of rolling over completely stunned Yao Mowan.

"Reporting to My Lady, when this servant rushed in, the Prince was wearing a cloak made of ice-silk, so he was basically uninjured." Yao Mowan looked back at Liu Xing. Compared to Ye Junqing, Liu Xing was practically battered; one could almost smell the singed scent from his face.

"Ting Yue!" Yao Mowan immediately called for Ting Yue.

"My Lady?" Ting Yue pushed the door open, looking at Yao Mowan suspiciously.

"Take Liu Xing to see the imperial physician immediately!" Yao Mowan commanded urgently. Just then, the sound of kneeling and bowing suddenly came from outside the door.

"This has nothing to do with you. Ting Yue, remember, you must ensure the imperial physician gives Liu Xing a thorough examination!" Yao Mowan's eyes were solemn as she looked at Liu Xing with heartache.

At that moment, Ye Hongyi burst through the door.

"Wan'er!" The moment Ye Hongyi entered, Yao Mowan threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Emperor, Wan'er is scared. The fire was so big!" To the side, Ting Yue quietly assisted Liu Xing in retreating.

"Let me see you!" Ye Hongyi held Yao Mowan's snowy shoulders with both hands, looking her over anxiously. Only after confirming she was unhurt did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"What exactly happened? How did the fire start so suddenly? Someone, come here!" After tenderly helping Yao Mowan sit down, Ye Hongyi barked an order.