Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 58: Thrilling

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Thrilling

"Protect the Crown Prince—"

"Protect the Crown Prince—"

By the time the guards from the Crown Prince’s Mansion had arrived and controlled the situation, most of the adversaries were dead and the survivors were severely wounded.

The incident of the Crown Prince getting injured happened at midnight, and all news was locked down within an hour. The Imperial Physician continuously entered the Crown Prince’s Mansion from the Imperial Palace and did not come out again; the tense atmosphere spread to every corner from the endlessly lit lanterns and the ceaseless in and out movements of people, yet was strictly contained within the Mansion’s walls.

Qi Ling hurried back and saw Qi Yu kneeling in the courtyard, where the number of guards had visibly increased. Imperial Physicians and attendants rushed about in haste, the scent of blood wafting from inside the house to the yard.

At that moment, no one cared whether Qi Yu was kneeling there; Qi Ling could even smell the strong scent of blood on him, fearing he was also gravely injured, while Qi Jin had been hit by several arrows and was currently unconscious.

As soon as Qi Ling entered the study, he saw the master personally in the room, overseeing all the defensive arrangements of the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

Qi Ling immediately went to see the Crown Prince, only to find the inner chamber reeking of blood. Two or three Imperial Physicians knelt beside him, a very thick spear tip still embedded in Zheng Congyuan’s shoulder, perilously close to his heart.

The room was crowded yet utterly silent as two Imperial Physicians personally changed the constantly blood-soaked dressings, applied medicine to the wound, and in an instant, the dressings were stained red again.

"Quickly go inform Master Zhu that this isn’t working, the arrow must be pulled out," said an Imperial Physician, his lips blistered from stress, too anxious to care about his appearance, "Dragging this out will only make things worse."

Qi Ling turned desperately and went straight into the study.

"Master, the Imperial Physician says we must make a decision quickly," Qi Ling’s voice trembled as he spoke, his mind buzzing from the moment he received the news until now, from initial disbelief to witnessing the Crown Prince lying on the bed himself.

From the time the master had appointed the four of them to stay by the Crown Prince’s side, the Crown Prince’s Mansion had not even once faced a minor assassination attempt.

The Crown Prince was kind and had delicately balanced relations with various factions since taking charge of the court, so none would attempt such an action at this time. Therefore, they had become complacent.

Such complacency had allowed a contemptible group to succeed; they no longer had the face to stay before the Crown Prince.

Zhu Wen had no mood to deal with these disciples now, and went straight into the inner chamber, leaving only a brief remark to Qi Ling before entering.

"Send that brat back too; don’t cause more chaos here. When the Crown Prince wakes up, he’ll deal with them himself."

Qi Ling, following the order, went out to see Qi Yu again, finding his injuries more severe than he’d expected; within two hours, his complexion was nearly ashen, the knees of his kneeling position soaked in blood.

"Master said you should go back first; now is not the time to seek punishment. We’ll talk when the Crown Prince wakes up."

"I won’t leave if the Crown Prince doesn’t wake up," Qi Yu stubbornly responded, his heart like dead ashes. Among the four of them, his martial arts were the strongest; usually, he was responsible for all of the Crown Prince’s security arrangements during outings, but he had neglected the master’s teachings.

Thinking that nothing had happened in years and that peace prevailed, had they become like any ordinary guard? Thinking that relying on his own superior martial arts, he could protect the Crown Prince alone, so he had dismissed those tedious loyalists to assign other tasks.

Therefore, the Crown Prince was endangered, and he bore an inescapable responsibility.

"Qi Yu..." Qi Ling didn’t know what to say to convince him, "All four of us are undoubtedly culpable; are we all going to kneel here doing nothing, causing more trouble for the Crown Prince and the master?"

Qi Yu, stubborn in his demeanor, finally showed a hint of confusion as he looked towards Qi Ling.

Qi Ling sighed and glanced at Qi Yu.

"Qi Zhu has already gone to the Imperial Palace to request the Empress’s presence. While you’ve been kneeling here, you should get bandaged up quickly and come with me to take care of the Crown Prince. Over the past years, it’s been us who have served him closely; without us, who can take better care of him?"

Qi Yu immediately got up, and there was indeed a pool of blood on the ground. Qi Ling wasn’t distressed about it, even feeling it was somewhat deserved, a consequence of his own folly.

Following Qi Ling, Qi Yu also went inside, where an Imperial Physician gave him simple first aid. Knowing well that persuading Qi Yu to rest was futile, he let him stay in the inner room, watching over Zheng Congyuan.

"Why hasn’t the Empress come yet?" The Imperial Physician anxiously started to ask, not able to delay any longer, there needed to be someone in charge.

Zhu Wen remained still, glanced at the Imperial Physician, then at the Crown Prince lying on the bed.

"Before the Crown Prince fell unconscious, he commanded that the Empress must not be informed until he is out of danger."

"How can this be possible..." Before the Imperial Physician could finish, a sword was already pressed against his neck, the Imperial Physician shuddered, and Qi Ling did not hesitate at all. If Zhu Wen said the word, he would definitely slit the Imperial Physician’s throat without any hesitation.

The Imperial Physician dared not speak further and immediately waved his hand, signaling people to prepare things.

After moments, everything was ready. Zheng Congyuan’s chest was exposed to the air, with a horrifying wound turned inside out. Now, under the effect of the hemostatic medicine, the blood from the wound had already started to lessen. Choosing the right angle, the Imperial Physician quickly pulled out the tip, and blood suddenly spurted out like a fountain. The body of Zheng Congyuan on the bed immediately convulsed with irregular movements.

"Quick, get the hemostatic powder." The Imperial Physician’s voice was high and urgent, and although panicked, he remained composed, dealing with various complications that might arise from the wound. The tension in the Crown Prince’s Mansion was palpable, evident in every breath of every individual there.

Finally, the Imperial Physician dropped the knife he was holding, and another Imperial Physician took over to dress the wound.

Zhu Wen stepped forward nervously, hoping the Imperial Physician could offer some reassuring words.

How much the Imperial Physician wished he could provide comforting words.

"If we can get through tonight, the Crown Prince’s condition will be stable." The Imperial Physician was so tired he was nearly collapsing, his forehead drenching with sweat, and his hands trembling slightly.

"Assist the Imperial Physicians to the adjacent room to rest, and be ready to be called at any moment."

After arranging everything, Zhu Wen looked again at the now-steadying breathing of Zheng Congyuan. Qi Ling and Qi Yu stayed by his side while he left to deal with more urgent matters.

Qi Ling sat by the bedside, his eyes never leaving Zheng Congyuan for a moment. Qi Yu was on the other side of the bed, his face pale, his lips cracked with several cuts, yet he was completely oblivious, focused solely on watching.

"A high fever?" Zhu Wen had not even left for half an hour when he heard an urgent report from a guard and immediately dropped his pen to rush toward the study.

Qi Ling continuously wiped Zheng Congyuan’s body with a cold handkerchief, Qi Yu kept changing the water, and the Imperial Physician took pulse alternately, his expression serious, switching between two different decoctions.

Zhu Wen wanted to ask, but seeing the Imperial Physician’s grave demeanor, he suddenly felt afraid to speak.

"Go and call the Empress." Zhu Wen turned to a guard and said. At this point, he couldn’t regard the Crown Prince’s command anymore. The guard quickly acknowledged and went out.

Zheng Congyuan burned with fever, delirious. Qi Yu placed down a basin of freshly drawn well water when suddenly Zheng Congyuan opened his mouth, shouting something indistinctly.

"Your Highness—" Qi Yu immediately leaned in, barely catching a faint whisper from Zheng Congyuan.

The next moment, Qi Yu’s eyes suddenly reddened, and under the watchful, expectant eyes of everyone, he dashed out.

"Qi Yu, where are you going?" Zhu Wen called out sharply, but Qi Yu’s figure was nowhere to be seen, Zhu Wen’s expression turning cold.

Given the Crown Prince’s current condition, no news should be leaked. What was this kid up to?

Qi Ling was momentarily stunned, faintly suspecting a possibility.

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