Chapter 55 The Laughing Man
Consort Duan looked ahead with a disappointed expression, seemingly absent-minded, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
Inside the luxurious carriage on the other side.
Yu Zhaoning was fed shrimp dumplings by her imperial aunt Luan Xue, and her cheeks were bulging like a little hamster hoarding food.
The system's voice in my mind instantly turned into a screaming chicken.
[Host! Stop eating! Something terrible has happened!]
[Key plot point triggered!!]
[That laughing rascal, the Carefree Prince, is about to attack! He's already drawn his dagger! If we don't go to save her soon, Consort Duan will be killed on the spot!]
The pastries in Yu Zhaoning's hand fell onto the brocade quilt.
She suddenly sprang up from the soft couch, her little tuft of hair standing on end in excitement.
With her short legs tumbling around, she suddenly pounced into Yuan Hua's arms.
"Grandmother! Hurry! Help!"
"An assassin has tried to kill Consort Duan!"
The little voice was both urgent and crisp.
The civil and military officials disguised as wealthy merchants' attendants also faintly heard the shout.
But the expressions on everyone's faces were incredibly conflicted.
In particular, Liu Zhengfeng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, desperately tried to explain himself to his colleagues.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Liu Zhengfeng's beard was practically askew as he lowered his voice and spoke.
"The Prince of Xiaoyao is known for his benevolence! He pays his respects to Consort Duan morning and evening without fail, rain or shine! How could he possibly commit such a heinous act as matricide?"
"His Majesty is still young; he must have misjudged the situation and can't distinguish reality from illusion!"
Several ministers nearby also felt somewhat doubtful, but His Majesty's words were clear, and how could the things told to His Majesty by the gods be false?
They were very conflicted.
Inside the carriage.
Yuan Hua frowned slightly as he listened to Liu Zhengfeng's incessant defense outside.
He turned to look at Cui'er, the head palace maid beside him.
Cui'er moved swiftly, her figure flashing out like a ghost.
Liu Zhengfeng outside was still speaking passionately.
"As subjects, we cannot believe everything we hear..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
He felt a tightening sensation at the back of his collar.
He was instantly lifted into the air!
"ah!"
Liu Zhengfeng let out a short scream, his hands and feet flailing helplessly in the air, looking just like a giant turtle whose fate had been seized by the scruff of its neck.
Cui'er gathered her energy and flicked her wrist.
Let's go!
Liu Zhengfeng drew a graceful parabola in the air and crashed straight into the gray-blue carriage!
…
Inside that lonely carriage.
Yu Jinghong's arm muscles were taut, and the killing intent in his eyes had become tangible.
"Go to hell..."
Just when things were at their most critical moment.
A loud bang was heard!
The carriage curtain was violently flung open from the outside, and a figure rolled in like a cannonball, getting stuck right in front of the carriage door.
Yu Jinghong was startled by this sudden turn of events, and almost dropped the dagger in his hand.
He turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.
Liu Zhengfeng scrambled to his feet, dizzy and disoriented. His hair ornament was askew, and he managed to straighten it before looking up.
That met Shangyu Jinghong's cold, venomous eyes.
With that poisoned dagger pointed directly at Consort Duan's heart!
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Liu Zhengfeng blinked, then blinked again.
My mind went blank.
Is this true?
Is the Carefree King really killing people?
Yu Jinghong's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.
Damn it!
Someone actually caught them in the act!
Moreover, this person is a notorious blabbermouth in the court, the Vice Minister of Rites!
The panic in Yu Jinghong's eyes lasted only a moment, and then it turned ruthless.
Since it has been seen.
Then we can't keep them!
"Lord Liu."
Yu Jinghong chuckled sinisterly, his voice like that of a demon crawling out of hell.
"Since you've seen it, I might as well go all the way and send you on your way, letting you continue being the Vice Minister of Rites in the lower realms!"
Yu Jinghong waved his hand gently.
The once empty path was suddenly sprung up by more than a dozen masked men dressed in black from the bushes and behind the trees!
These men, armed with steel knives and exuding a murderous aura, were clearly lying in ambush!
Liu Zhengfeng was so frightened that his face turned pale and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
"Your Highness!"
How could you do this!
Although Liu Zhengfeng was afraid, his scholarly integrity made him unable to resist pointing at Yu Jinghong and cursing him.
"And I even spoke up for you in court before! Saying you were so benevolent and filial that heaven was moved!"
"You murdered your own mother, which is already an outrage against heaven and earth. Now you even want to kill an official of the imperial court!"
Have you lost all your conscience?!
Yu Jinghong snorted coldly, too lazy to listen to his nonsense.
"Conscience? What's a conscience worth?"
"All of you, attack! Kill them! Make it look like a robbery-murder scene!"
At a command.
The group of men in black surrounded them, brandishing knives.
Liu Zhengfeng was terrified when he saw the gleaming blade.
"Help!"
"Empress Dowager, save me! Your Majesty, save me! Colleagues, save me!"
He screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice so shrill it was almost worse than being slaughtered.
Upon hearing these two titles, Yu Jinghong's expression changed drastically.
"His Majesty?"
He suddenly looked at Liu Zhengfeng.
"You actually brought that brat here too?"
Immediately, the expression on his face became even more ferocious, even showing a hint of ecstasy.
"Great! Excellent!"
"Since that's the case, then I'll settle things with you all right here!"
"I must thank you, Lord Liu."
Yu Jinghong approached step by step, twirling the dagger in his hand in a fancy manner.
"If you hadn't lured that little one here, I would have had to go through a lot of trouble to get rid of her!"
"Today is the day of upheaval in the Great Yu Dynasty!"
Just as Yu Jinghong was immersed in his dream of ascending the throne.
He suddenly realized.
Across from him, Liu Zhengfeng was trembling with fear, his small eyes blinking frantically.
After blinking with the left eye, I blinked with the right eye, and my facial features almost squeezed together.
Yu Jinghong frowned: "Is your eye twitching?"
Liu Zhengfeng was extremely anxious!
I told you to look behind me! You idiot!
There's someone behind you!