dognovel Chapter 97 Early Death? Wouldn't that suit my taste perfectly…
Chapter 97 Early Death? Wouldn't that suit my taste perfectly…
Jiang Wan composed herself and asked in a low voice, "Is there... any hope for him?"
The doctor shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "With proper care, he might live for a few more years; otherwise..."
The doctor sighed.
several years......
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her; Jiang Mian's fingers clenched slightly, and she remained silent for a long time.
The room was so quiet that only the crackling of the charcoal fire could be heard.
The doctor was still saying something, but she couldn't hear a word; her mind was completely blank.
Soon, the charcoal went out, and she suddenly felt a slight chill.
Stepping out of the clinic, a cold wind rushed towards her face, and white mist billowed from her breath. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, and she felt as if her body was floating on a feather and her heart was sinking into the sea.
Xiao Hengzhi won't live for many more years; she should feel relieved.
Wouldn't his early death suit her just fine? It would save her the trouble of going to great lengths to get close to him and find an opportunity to strike.
But why does my chest feel so tight, and my heart feel like it's being violently stirred?
When did someone as domineering and tyrannical as Xiao Hengzhi become so riddled with internal injuries? How could he possibly live a short life?
Jiang Wan suddenly remembered that when her mother found him, he was on the verge of death and was indeed covered in injuries.
How did those injuries come about?
He never mentioned it, and she never asked.
During the time they spent together, she never cared about him or explored anything about him.
Jiang Wan only now realized that she seemed to know nothing about Xiao Hengzhi.
A gust of biting wind swept by, and she shivered, snapping out of her reverie.
She shook her head and gritted her teeth: Whatever, anyway... anyway, what does his life or death have to do with her?
She just wanted this enemy to die a more thorough death.
......
As she approached the Prince's residence, she suddenly felt the urge to visit Duming Garden. She wanted to ask Duan Zhi'an about the Emperor's attitude towards Ning Zhi's marriage.
Unfortunately, the servant said that Duan Zhi'an had gone to court early that day.
Jiang Mian had no choice but to give up and turn to leave.
Along the riverbank, you can see many workers carrying planks and pillars; these are timbers brought in for the reconstruction of the Jiang family mansion.
Because it was a general's residence, the government attached great importance to it and sent a lot of people to speed up the reconstruction day and night.
Jiang Xun went to supervise the construction every day, while she was free and never went, her mind only on how to become the Crown Princess.
Everything was going smoothly, and Ning Zhi was persuaded to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree. All that was needed was an imperial decree to grant the marriage, and everything would be settled.
But then a fire broke out, disrupting her plans... no, it should be that everything started to fall apart after Xiao Hengzhi and the Empress Dowager recognized each other.
She never imagined that Xiao Hengzhi would be the last surviving son of the Prince of Beiqin's family and the Empress Dowager's only grandson.
He hid it too well; through both her past and present lives, she racked her brains but could never have guessed that he had such an identity...
As Jiang Mian walked and pondered, she did not notice that not far away, by the window on the second floor of the teahouse, two figures were quietly watching her.
"Teacher, isn't this plan too dangerous? The people at the hunting grounds say this lion doesn't harm people, can we believe that?..."
Duan Zhi'an glanced at Ning Zhi's worried expression and replied in a low voice, "Your Highness need not worry. The Beast Arena should not make promises lightly. This plan is merely to lure the snake out of its hole. If no one shows up, the palace guards will come to the rescue and will not harm Miss Jiang."
"But didn't the teacher say that Miss Jiang should use a psychological strategy? Why put her in danger?"
Duan Zhi'an's lips curled slightly: "Human hearts are unpredictable. How can Your Highness be sure whether Miss Jiang will win the prince's heart, or whether the prince... will win Miss Jiang's heart?"
Ning Zhi was speechless for a moment.
Duan Zhian also turned his gaze away and stared at the bustling streets below.
Actually, he didn't have high hopes for Jiang Wan from the beginning. Although she was somewhat clever and daring.
But to expect a woman like her to kill the Red Slaves? That's incredibly naive.
Even if Xiao Hengzhi liked her very much, he couldn't possibly be completely unguarded.
His real plan is now.
He deduced that Xiao Hengzhi would have arranged for someone to secretly protect Jiang Mian, and that this person would be quite skilled.
We can wipe them all out in one fell swoop, at least giving Xiao Hengzhi a hard time. Only after eliminating the experts around him can we find an opportunity to take Jiang Mian hostage.
They'll risk their lives for each other then; after all, those whom the Red Slaves have chosen are people they'll protect even at the cost of their own lives...
He tapped lightly on the railing in thought, his eyes filled with a sinister calculation.
Suddenly, a loud bang shook the earth.
Immediately following was a scream from the crowd.
The shop door slammed shut, the peddler dropped his load and ran for his life. Many people panicked and ran for their lives, and some even jumped into the river.
In the chaos, Jiang Wan was pushed and shoved to the side. She looked up, stunned—
A lion came charging from the other end of the street, its body as big as a small mountain, its mane billowing and its blood-red mouth revealing menacing fangs, and it charged straight at her!
Her legs went weak, and she staggered, barely managing to stay upright by grabbing the wall for support. But her mind went blank; she couldn't think of any way to save herself.
Just then, the lion suddenly leaped up, its front paws slashing out, and a gust of wind rushed towards them.
"boom!"
Jiang Mian was swatted away by its paw, her body suddenly crashing into the stall behind her, falling to the ground, the pain making her vision go black for a moment.
The stall overturned, and the scattered wooden boxes hit her shoulder, sending a sharp pain through her.
The lion tried to approach her again, but in the next instant, a dark figure descended from the sky. The person was agile and jumped directly onto the lion's back, the movement so fast that Jiang Mian was dazzled.
The lion let out a deafening roar and suddenly fell backward.
Jiang Mian was so frightened that she dared not look any longer. She lifted her skirt and staggered into the alley.
Ning Zhi, who was upstairs, immediately became anxious and raised his voice: "Didn't they say that lion doesn't hurt people?! Why did it extend its claws as soon as it came in!"
"Your Highness, please don't worry. That beast is never absolute. It won't hurt your life."
After Duan Zhian finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes and kept a close eye on the man in black on the back of the lion. His movements were swift and agile, and he was able to deal with the raging lion.
To his surprise, it was yet another Red Slave.
No wonder the assassins sent out that day were all wiped out; it turns out Xiao Hengzhi had a Red Slave with him.
What an unexpected bonus.
He raised his hand and waved it lightly: "Release."
In an instant, a sturdy and tight net descended from the sky, firmly trapping the lion and the man in black within it, and tightening instantly.
"Your Highness, look at today's harvest, it must be quite substantial."
Ning Zhi didn't look; his gaze followed Jiang Mian's figure, watching her disappear in the direction of the alleyway.
Her panic and fear caught his eye like a sharp thorn, making him furrow his brow and turn to run downstairs.
"Your Highness!" Duan Zhi'an said coldly, "It is not appropriate for you to appear at this time."
Ning Zhi paused, frozen in place, his back taut with effortless restraint: "Teacher... I have my own appropriate explanation."
Duan Zhian remained silent, his eyes darkening slightly, and his gaze towards him carried a hint of coercion.
Ning Zhi felt a shiver run down his spine.
This was something he had feared since childhood, and the Grand Tutor's expression was filled with anger.
He first saw that look in his eyes when he was young, when his father bestowed upon him a rare colorful unicorn.
This thing was rare, and the Third Prince was extremely envious. He was soft-hearted and lent the Qilin to the other party.
The Grand Tutor said, "Your Highness, the Third Prince is your political enemy; you should not be too close to him."
He argued in a low voice, "...That's my brother."
Duan Zhi'an looked at him with that same gaze back then.
"Family ties are the knife you hand to your opponent."
"The imperial family does not need kinship."
"If Your Highness continues to do such naive things, I'm afraid you yourself will die a violent death."
He was calm and sharp, severing the naivety in his heart with a single stroke.
As expected, the third prince smashed the jade pendant and then falsely accused him of breaking it.
He was forced to kneel outside the palace gates for three days as punishment. Amidst the wind and snow, Duan Zhi'an never appeared. It wasn't until the third night, when he was so cold he was almost delirious, that Duan Zhi'an finally appeared and draped a cloak over him.
He asked, "Do you know you're wrong?"
Ning Zhi was stubborn and refused to admit that his younger brother had framed him.
Duan Zhi'an then made him continue kneeling.
“Since you say he won’t harm you, then kneel until he comes to save you.”
The third prince didn't come after all...
It was Duan Zhian who brought him back from the snow and made him kneel in front of the mirror, looking directly at his disheveled appearance.
“Your Highness, if you bow down to sentimentality, you will have to bear the consequences.”
He gritted his teeth, sobbing uncontrollably...
Yes.
The Grand Tutor was never wrong. His words were like a brand, keeping Ning Zhi clear-headed, calm, and calculating, always able to weigh the best options.
But so what if we make the wrong choice this time?
So what if we make a mistake this once?
Duan Zhian's voice rang out again, like a ruler striking beside his ear.
"The prince may have planted others around her..."
"Your Highness's appearance at this time is tantamount to revealing your true colors."
Ning Zhi's hands, hanging by his sides, slowly tightened, his knuckles turning white, but his voice remained restrained and polite: "Forgive me, student, but I cannot comply..."
After he finished speaking, he ran down the steps.
Duan Zhian watched his retreating figure, his thin lips slightly pursed, a complex emotion appearing in his eyes.
This was the first time Ning Zhi had disobeyed him.
From childhood to adulthood, Ning Zhi had always obeyed his every command. Even when faced with danger or difficult choices, his reactions never disappointed him.
Duan Zhi'an was very arrogant, boasting that the students he taught were no less capable than any former emperor.
But just now, Ning Zhi lost his temper and acted recklessly because of a woman.
Just how important is Jiang Wan to him?