Chapter 75: Chapter 298, The Assassin Is Finally Here
“Your Majesty, scout reports indicate that the Empress’s wet nurse has recently left the palace, and experts have also successively left the side of other imperial concubines.”
In the Imperial Study, Eunuch Zhong reported respectfully to Lin Tu.
“Heh heh, it seems they can’t sit still anymore.”
Lin Tu let out a mocking smile and then asked, “What about Consort Jin?”
“Consort Jin is still quite well-behaved, but today she also recalled the Sixth Princess. I suspect it’s related to the matter of the Imperial Concubine selection. After all, cultivators later on require astronomical resources. No one wants another royal offspring competing with their own daughter.”
Eunuch Zhong analyzed with great care.
“Yes.”
Lin Tu agreed wholeheartedly.
“Your Majesty, this old servant dares to suggest, why don’t you send some experts to protect that imperial concubine? If she is killed again, it will reflect poorly on you.”
Eunuch Zhong said, gritting his teeth.
“Who said I haven’t sent anyone? They should have already arrived at the HongHua Sect.”
Lin Tu slightly curved his lips.
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Eunuch Zhong bowed in admiration, but a hint of worry appeared on his face again. “Your Majesty, the lives of others are minor matters, but if the Sixth Princess also goes to kill that Qi Huang, it will be difficult. Perhaps you could secretly inform those guards not to harm her?”
“There’s no need. Strictly speaking, all those going this time have committed treason. It is more than benevolent of me not to pursue it. If she dies, she will have only herself to blame.”
Lin Tu said expressionlessly.
Eunuch Zhong wanted to say something but stopped, and finally withdrew respectfully.
…
Meanwhile, in the Chu Xiu Palace, Consort Jin was chatting with her daughter Lin Ran.
Although Lin Ran was the Sixth Princess of the dynasty, due to her astonishing cultivation talent, she was sent to Broken Cloud Peak at a very young age and spent little time in the palace. As mother and daughter reunited, they naturally had much to talk about.
“Ran’er, it’s been half a year, do you miss your mother?”
Consort Jin said affectionately, holding her daughter’s hand.
“Of course, I do.”
Lin Ran’s pretty face with its sharp features relaxed slightly.
“If you miss me, why don’t you come back to visit your mother more often? Look at your hands, they’ve become rough again. Cultivation is important, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
Consort Jin caressed her daughter’s hands with concern.
“I know.”
Lin Ran pursed her lips, appearing to be not very eloquent today, so she got straight to the point. “Mother, I heard that Father Emperor has personally selected a clone of a cultivator to be an imperial concubine, is that true?”
“Yes, alas! This is why your mother asked you to come back.”
Consort Jin sighed.
“How many imperial concubines Father Emperor wants, and who he wants to be an imperial concubine, that’s his business. We can’t interfere, and it has nothing to do with me.”
Lin Ran directly stated her stance.
“Ran’er, do you know Cheng Hong Ling of the HongHua Sect? She entered the Huashen realm at sixteen, seven or eight years earlier than you. Her bloodline is so strong it’s truly shocking. This imperial concubine is her clone. Once the other party enters the palace and bears offspring, your Father Emperor will shift his focus from you, and the resources you receive will continue to decrease. Do you understand this?”
Consort Jin said earnestly.
“Then what does Mother mean?”
Lin Ran frowned.
“What I mean is simple. For your future, perhaps we can eliminate the threat in its infancy.”
Consort Jin bit her crown.
“You mean to kill that Qi Huang? That’s treason!”
Lin Ran reminded her.
“Ran’er, we are not the only ones who want to kill that Qi Huang now. As long as we cooperate sincerely, we can accomplish this without anyone knowing.”
Consort Jin explained in a low voice.
Lin Ran hesitated for a moment, then firmly shook her head. “Mother, I won’t do that. What if her bloodline is strong? Cultivation is not solely determined by bloodline. If I act now, it signifies a lack of confidence.”
“Have you thought it through? There’s no turning back from this. Once she enters the palace, it will be difficult to kill her.”
Consort Jin confirmed solemnly.
“Mother, to be honest, the matter of Father Emperor selecting an imperial concubine has long spread to Broken Cloud Peak. Now my fellow disciples are all secretly mocking me, saying that Father Emperor doesn’t trust me.”
Lin Ran took a deep breath.
“Those damned people, they’re truly the worst. No wonder you’ve been unhappy since you returned this time.”
Consort Jin retorted angrily.
“Therefore, if she dies now, everyone will surely think that I did it out of guilt, especially since I’ve returned to visit you. This way, Father’s distrust, my inferior bloodline, these stains will be impossible to wash away.”
Lin Ran bit her crown slightly.
“Then what do you suggest?”
Consort Jin asked doubtfully.
“Isn’t her main body still in the Cultivation World? At the next Evergreen Convention, if she encounters me, I will prove to Father Emperor and the world whose bloodline is stronger. If she can’t even meet me, then what’s the point of calling her a genius?”
Lin Ran said sharply.
“Since you’ve said so, then Mother respects your opinion.”
Consort Jin let out a helpless sigh. Her daughter was good in every way, except for being too arrogant.
…
Qi Huang waited outside the HongHua Sect for two days, and a team of soldiers appeared within her Spiritual Sense.
“Why are they soldiers?”
Qi Huang was a little puzzled. Even if someone wanted to kill her, they wouldn’t wear official uniforms, right? That would be suicidal.
“Could it be that the Emperor sent them to protect me?”
Qi Huang then thought, and the subsequent conversation of the soldiers confirmed her guess.
“We will arrive at the HongHua Sect soon. Everyone remember, before the first of next month, the Imperial Concubine must not have any accidents. Otherwise, not only will we die, but our wives, children, and families will also not be spared. Do you understand?”
The middle-aged general leading the team instructed. He looked to be in his forties, was extremely tall and strong, his features were chiseled, and his skin had a healthy wheat complexion, giving him a masculine aura.
“Yes, General Zhang!”
Hundreds of soldiers behind him answered in unison.
“Who is there? Peeking at others like this is too impolite?”
At this moment, General Zhang narrowed his eyes slightly and looked towards Qi Huang’s location.
“Such strong perception!”
Qi Huang was stunned. The other party’s Spiritual Sense had not emerged from his body, yet he could detect her peeking. This was clearly due to strong senses, which directly reflected the other party’s terrifying strength, at least equivalent to a cultivator at the Huashen realm master.
As Qi Huang was marveling, she didn’t expect the other party to launch a counterattack.
General Zhang’s pupils contracted slightly, and his sharp gaze transformed into tangible killing intent, radiating in all directions like a porcupine covered in thorns.
Qi Huang’s breathing hitched. Even though her fear had been assimilated to the lowest level by that Cheng Ling, she was still affected.
“My heavens, such strong killing intent, it’s almost comparable to that Zombie Crown Prince. Fortunately, this young master is not what he used to be, otherwise, I would have made a fool of myself.”
Qi Huang exclaimed inwardly.
“Hmph?”
General Zhang felt his killing intent had no effect, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
To avoid any misunderstandings, Qi Huang quickly withdrew her Spiritual Sense, then switched to using the “Recording Mirror” to observe the other party. The benefit of this item immediately became apparent, which was that it would not be detected by the target.
General Zhang let out a slight sigh of relief, then led hundreds of soldiers to continue towards the mountain.
About half an hour later, General Zhang and his entourage arrived at the entrance of the HongHua Sect. Without any further ado, he directly asked to see the Sect Leader Qin Quan by name.
Qin Quan, hearing that soldiers had arrived, hurried out to greet them. After all, even cultivators did not want to be targeted by secular officials, especially since the HongHua Sect was not a major sect.
General Zhang directly revealed his identity. He was Zhang Bao, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, and he had come to the HongHua Sect on imperial decree to protect the imperial concubine.
Qin Quan felt a heavy burden lifted from his heart upon hearing this, so he invited General Zhang in to rest.
General Zhang did not refuse, but after entering, he did not rest. Instead, he asked Qin Quan to familiarize him with the situation of the HongHua Sect, especially Qi Huang’s residence, so that he could carry out his protection duties more conveniently.
Qi Huang did not stop him, because the other party was just a warrior and could absolutely not see through her clone.
After familiarizing himself with the situation at the HongHua Sect, General Zhang immediately began to command his guards. Half of them were responsible for the security of the Cheng family’s courtyard, while the other half were assigned to various locations within the HongHua Sect to cooperate with the immortal sect disciples in investigating potential security risks.
“Ouch! Uncle, you’re so professional, it makes me feel redundant!”
Qi Huang said helplessly. She was prepared to act, but now, those who wanted to kill her would probably have to think twice seeing such a display.
General Zhang was so careful and cautious because he knew the danger of this mission and did not dare to relax in the slightest.
As night deepened and the HongHua Sect fell silent, most people had entered dreamland, but the imperial guards were still diligently performing their duties.
Qi Huang felt a little moved. Although the other party was acting on imperial decree, they were ultimately there to protect her.
“Guard Jiang, you should understand what happened to the imperial concubines previously appointed by His Majesty, and what happened to those who were responsible for protecting them. If you still wish to return to your family, then have the brothers stay alert.”
General Zhang did not forget to call his deputy commander to remind him.
“Don’t worry, Commander Zhang. The brothers here this time are all elites among the Imperial Guards, and there will definitely be no slip-ups.”
Guard Jiang guaranteed.
General Zhang relaxed slightly, and at this moment, his Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device rang.
General Zhang took it out to answer. It turned out to be his family contacting him.
“Husband, you must come back. Your child, and I, along with your parents, are waiting for you at home,” his wife said, weeping uncontrollably.
“Wife, don’t worry! I will definitely come back.”
General Zhang promised, then found an excuse to end the assimilation. Only then did he look in the direction of the Imperial Capital. “Wife, if I don’t come back, I’ll leave our parents and child to you. I’ll make it up to you in the next life.”
‘Uncle, don’t worry! With me here, you will surely be able to return to your family.’
Qi Huang silently resolved. Just then, a fast-moving figure appeared at the edge of her Spiritual Sense.
“Are they finally here? I’m getting a little impatient from waiting.”
Qi Huang smiled slightly.
