latelenovela Chapter 416
Chapter 416
Chapter 416
Night fell like ink, enveloping the palace in darkness, with only a few lanterns casting a faint glow as they swayed in the wind. Ye Jiuchen sat by the bed, gently stroking Dongfang Wan'er's hair, his movements tender as if soothing a frightened fawn. His voice was deep and gentle: "Wan'er, don't worry, I know what I'm doing." His eyes were deep and resolute, revealing an undeniable confidence.
However, elsewhere in the Prince's residence, Ye Jingchu was not idle either. When he learned that Ye Jiuchen had woken up, his heart tightened, and his brows instantly furrowed into a deep frown. He knew his younger brother all too well; once Ye Jiuchen recovered, he would definitely come seeking revenge. He was all too familiar with that sharp gaze and resolute attitude. In order not to be put on the defensive, he gritted his teeth and decided to strike first.
In his study, Ye Jingchu kept the door tightly shut, the flickering candlelight casting long and short shadows of his body. He had secretly gathered a group of martial arts experts, some dressed in black, others with bare, scarred arms, their eyes gleaming with ruthlessness. Ye Jingchu looked at them, a calculating glint in his eyes, then pulled a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, slammed them heavily on the table, and said in a deep voice, "If you can find Ye Jiuchen's whereabouts, this money is yours. If you do a good job, there will be a generous reward!" The men, their eyes gleaming with greed, readily agreed.
Meanwhile, he secretly contacted some factions in the court who were dissatisfied with Ye Jiuchen. He secretly met with several ministers in a secluded teahouse private room. The group sat together and talked in hushed tones. Ye Jingchu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "If Ye Jiuchen regains his power, do you all think our lives will be any better? Why not take advantage of this opportunity to eliminate him in one fell swoop?" The ministers looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Ye Jiuchen's health gradually recovered under Dongfang Wan'er's meticulous care. He paced around the room, a cold light in his eyes, and began to secretly plot. Relying on the connections he had built up in the army, he quietly contacted the soldiers who were loyal to him. He wrote a series of secret letters and sent them out by secret messengers. The letters were earnest and sincere, trying to awaken the soldiers' loyalty to him.
Finally, one day, the assassins dispatched by Ye Jingchu, following the clues, found Ye Jiuchen's hiding place. It was a small courtyard nestled in the mountains, surrounded by dense trees. The tranquility of the courtyard was instantly shattered. The assassins appeared like ghosts, surrounding the courtyard. Hearing the commotion, Ye Jiuchen immediately drew his sword, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His men also took up their weapons and stood behind him.
A fierce battle ensued, with shouts of battle and the clang of weapons echoing through the mountains and forests. Although Ye Jiuchen was outnumbered, his martial arts were superb, his swordsmanship sharp and deadly, each move carrying a deadly intent. His figure weaved through the crowd like a black lightning bolt. He led his men in a tenacious resistance, refusing to retreat.
As the situation grew increasingly tense, Dongfang Wan'er anxiously watched the battle outside from inside the house. She gritted her teeth, pulled a small bottle from her bosom containing a rare poison she had meticulously crafted. She took a deep breath, opened the bottle, and sprinkled the poison powder towards the assassins. Instantly, a pungent odor filled the air. Some of the assassins, after inhaling the powder, coughed uncontrollably, staggered, and retreated. Seeing this, the assassins were forced to temporarily withdraw.
However, Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er knew that the crisis was not over. Ye Jingchu knew their location, and danger still loomed over them like a dark cloud, ready to strike again at any moment.
The night was as dark as ink, thick and impenetrable, and a pungent stench of blood permeated the mountains and forests—the remnants of a recent battle. Ye Jiuchen stood before the ruins of the courtyard, watching the retreating assassins like a receding tide, his eyes flashing with a cold light, like two burning stars. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white from the force, silently contemplating that this passive defense was unsustainable. He had to change this unfavorable situation quickly, or death would be the only outcome for himself and those around him. With this thought, he gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and resolutely decided to take the initiative.
Ye Jiuchen knew that to turn the tide, he needed external help. He carefully reviewed his network of connections and suddenly remembered a reclusive physician who had lived in seclusion for many years. This physician was not only a highly skilled healer, but also possessed an astonishing ability to disguise himself, leaving behind countless legendary tales in the martial world. However, the physician had long since grown weary of worldly strife and had secluded himself in the mountains for many years, detached from worldly affairs. But Ye Jiuchen had no other choice. He immediately picked up a brush, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote a heartfelt, confidential letter, detailing his situation and request, earnestly pleading with the physician to come out of seclusion and help him.
After sending the secret letter, Ye Jiuchen felt each day drag on endlessly, anxiously awaiting the divine physician's reply. Finally, one early morning, as dawn broke, an elderly man in a simple robe, with white hair yet remarkably vigorous, appeared before him. Ye Jiuchen immediately recognized the old man as the divine physician he had been eagerly anticipating. He hurried forward, bowing deeply, his eyes filled with gratitude and anticipation.
The divine physician didn't say much, only nodding slightly. He first carefully observed the hiding place of Ye Jiuchen and the others, then took out several strangely shaped herbs emitting a peculiar fragrance from his medicine pouch. He crushed the herbs and scattered them around; the unique herbal aroma instantly spread, like an invisible barrier, completely concealing the traces of Ye Jiuchen and the others. From then on, the scouts sent by Ye Jingchu wandered aimlessly through this mountain forest like headless flies, unable to find any accurate information.
Immediately afterward, the divine physician took out various tools and pigments and began to disguise Ye Jiuchen and his men. His hands moved like nimble butterflies, lightly fluttering across their faces. In no time, Ye Jiuchen and the others were transformed into ordinary people. Ye Jiuchen looked at his unremarkable face in the bronze mirror, a slight smile of satisfaction appearing on his lips.
With everything prepared, Ye Jiuchen, disguised, quietly infiltrated the capital. The capital was as bustling and vibrant as ever, its streets teeming with traffic and people, but Ye Jiuchen had no heart to appreciate it. He knew the heavy responsibility he bore, and every step he took was cautious. Using the evidence he had previously gathered regarding Ye Jingchu's embezzlement, bribery, and collusion with foreign enemies, he began to disseminate it discreetly and systematically. First, he anonymously posted the evidence in various corners of the capital, attracting crowds of onlookers and sparking much discussion. Then, through some of his associates in the martial arts world, he relayed the information to teahouses and taverns. In an instant, public opinion in the capital was in uproar; the people were filled with righteous indignation and deeply despised Ye Jingchu's actions.
In the imperial court, the emperor also heard of this matter. He sat on his dragon throne, his face terribly grim. Enraged, he slammed his fist on the imperial desk and ordered a thorough investigation into Ye Jingchu.