Three days later.
It was night, the sky was overcast, and lightning and thunder raged outside. Streaks of lightning, like silver snakes, pierced through layers of black clouds, and heavy rain poured down, falling onto the rooftops and flowing down along the black tiles.
At this time, Leng Ruoli had just finished dinner and was conducting research in her spatial dimension, while Jun Mohan was in his study handling official business.
But at that very moment, Ye Ying rushed through the storm and arrived outside Jun Mohan's study, knocking on his door.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, Yin Chen is back!"
Upon hearing this, Jun Mohan quickly put down his work and replied, "Where is he now? Has Madam Wen been received in the capital?"
"Your Highness, Yin Chen has brought Madam Wen to the Prince's Mansion, but he is also seriously injured. I've had him carried to a room and also arranged a room for Madam Wen to rest," Ye Ying replied anxiously.
Jun Mohan frowned slightly upon hearing Ye Ying's words.
"Alright, you go and look after Yin Chen first. This King and the Consort will be there shortly," Jun Mohan replied sternly.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After Ye Ying responded, he immediately dashed back into the stormy night.
Jun Mohan also quickly left his study and walked into the bedroom he shared with Leng Ruoli.
He glanced around the room and, not seeing Leng Ruoli inside, guessed that she had entered her spatial dimension again for experiments.
"Lier, Lier, Yin Chen has had an accident. Come out quickly," Jun Mohan called out loudly in the room.
Leng Ruoli, who was in her spatial dimension, faintly heard Jun Mohan's voice. She immediately tidied up her work and flashed out of the dimension.
"Jun Mohan, are you looking for me?"
"Yin Chen brought Madam Wen back to the capital, but he was seriously injured. Let's go and see him together."
After hearing this, Leng Ruoli nodded, and she and Jun Mohan quickly left the room.
Meanwhile.
Yin Chen was in so much pain he almost fainted, but he gritted his teeth and endured without making a sound. Yet, blood still dripped all the way on the floor of his room. That he was still alive in such a state was thanks to the medicinal pills the Consort had him keep close to him.
"Yin Chen, bear with it. The Consort will be here soon," Ye Ying rushed in from outside the door and said hurriedly.
After a short while, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan arrived at Yin Chen's room, and even Xing'er and Ling'er had rushed over.
A pungent smell of blood filled the room, which was also crowded with people.
As Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan entered, everyone turned to look at them.
"Consort, Brother Yin Chen is so badly injured!" Ling'er said with red eyes upon seeing Leng Ruoli.
"I'll come and take a look at him. Everyone, please step outside first," Leng Ruoli said to everyone upon entering.
After she spoke, everyone, without asking why, quickly left the room with understanding, as they all knew Leng Ruoli's habit of not liking too many people present to disturb her when she was saving someone.
Once they had all gone out, only Leng Ruoli, Jun Mohan, and the seriously injured Yin Chen remained in the room.
Leng Ruoli quickly took out an anesthetic from her spatial dimension, injected it into Yin Chen, and then moved him into her dimension. Jun Mohan was about to follow.
After entering the dimension, she immediately examined Yin Chen's injuries.
His chest had been slashed twice by sharp weapons like swords or knives. The flesh was torn open, and a small amount of blood was still gushing out, a shocking sight.
"Jun Mohan, Yin Chen needs immediate surgery. You should go out first."
After examining Yin Chen's injuries, Leng Ruoli said to Jun Mohan.
Jun Mohan, hearing Leng Ruoli's words, readily walked out of Leng Ruoli's examination room.
Meanwhile, at the Duke of Lin's Mansion.
A tall man with several subordinates rushed through the rainy night to Lin Zhenfan's courtyard.
"Master, Gao Dazhuang has returned from Yingzhou. He said he has something urgent to report to you," Lin Zhenfan's personal guard said in a low voice outside the room.
"Bring him in!" Lin Zhenfan replied faintly, his brow furrowed.
Subsequently, Gao Dazhuang, closely following the guard, pushed open the door and entered Lin Zhenfan's room.
"Master, something has happened. Your subordinate encountered Madam Wen on the road from Yingzhou back to the capital," Gao Dazhuang said with a serious expression.
"What? Wen Jiayin has also come to the capital?" Lin Zhenfan asked, shocked.
"Yes, Master! Your subordinate saw her on the road leading into the capital. Worried that Madam Wen's arrival in the capital would be detrimental to you, I wanted to apprehend her and engaged in a fight with the guards protecting her into the capital. However, in the end... I still allowed them to escape with Madam Wen. Master, the guards protecting Madam Wen were actually the chief guards of the Cold Prince's Mansion, Yin Chen," Gao Dazhuang added, delivering more startling news.
"The Cold Prince's Mansion again!" Lin Zhenfan murmured upon hearing this.
This time, there was trouble. The Cold Prince bringing Wen Jiayin to the capital must have a profound purpose.
"Master, we should leave the capital immediately. Your subordinate guesses that the Cold Prince brought Madam Wen to the capital specifically targeting you," Gao Dazhuang said with a worried expression.
"Let me think for a moment," Lin Zhenfan said, raising his hand to his forehead.
"Master, don't think about it. Let's leave the capital quickly before the Cold Prince makes a move," Gao Dazhuang urged again.
Hearing this, Lin Zhenfan closed his eyes slightly and remained silent for a moment.
"Alright, Dazhuang, you give the order. We will leave the capital tonight."
Lin Zhenfan finally made his decision.
"Then, should we notify the elder master to leave the capital with us?"
"No. If we notify him to leave the capital with us, it will surely arouse suspicion. Then none of us will be able to leave the capital," Lin Zhenfan said after careful consideration.
"Yes, your subordinate understands. Your subordinate will go and arrange for people now." Gao Dazhuang and the guards present nodded their heads.
"Remember, you must not spread this matter out loud!" Lin Zhenfan cautioned them in a low voice again.
"Yes, your subordinate understands!"
The guards present replied in unison.
Thus, Lin Zhenfan, braving the heavy rain, hurriedly led his men away from the capital.
At this time, in Fengqi Palace.
The Empress lay half-reclined on her phoenix couch with a melancholic expression.
Since Prince Qing had died, she had become listless. Her one remaining healthy eye was also swollen and red from crying.
Today, she had personally buried her own son. There is no greater sorrow in life than a parent outliving their child. She truly understood this now.
As the Empress was lost in thought, Xiao Anzi suddenly walked in from outside the palace doors.
"Your Majesty, your servant has sent people to investigate the cause of Prince Qing's death."
Upon hearing this, the Empress abruptly lifted her head and looked at Xiao Anzi.
"Is it true that he (the Cold Prince) killed Prince Qing?" the Empress immediately asked him.
"Yes, Your Majesty! On that night, Prince Qing instructed Zuo Qing to gather the Ten Eagle-Beaked Shadow Guards that Your Majesty had trained to assassinate the Cold Prince Consort. However, the Cold Prince Consort's martial arts were too formidable, and those Ten Eagle-Beaked Shadow Guards were no match for her. Thus, Prince Qing hid in the shadows and shot a cold arrow at the Cold Prince Consort. As a result, Prince Qing's arrow was intercepted by the Cold Prince himself... Later, Prince Qing shot another hidden dart at the Cold Prince Consort. The Cold Prince was enraged and, with a raise of his hand, stabbed Prince Qing to death with a sword..."
Xiao Anzi recounted the information he had painstakingly gathered to the Empress, word for word.