The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 216

Chapter 216 Assassinated on New Year’s Eve
Xiao Xiwei followed Chu Yanzhi into the Zi Chen Palace. Originally, it was so lively that the Zi Chen Palace immediately quieted down.

The news about the Crown Prince and Princess Yan had already spread like wildfire in the palace, but in the end, this matter hadn’t been revealed on the surface. Now that they saw the two of them walking in together, it was inevitable that everyone looked down on them, especially Princess Xiang.

At this awkward moment, a person suddenly walked in from outside the hall.

“Prince Qin is here. Why haven’t you seen Miss Gu?”

Perhaps she wanted to break the awkward atmosphere in the hall, so when she saw the person, An Bin opened her mouth and said. Unexpectedly, just as she finished speaking, Chu Muzhi’s expression turned extremely ugly. Concubine An, who realized that she had said something wrong, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.

Xiao Xiwei acted as if she did not notice the awkwardness in the hall and walked to her seat.

Seeing Xiao Xiwei’s movements, Chu Yanzhi smiled and also sat down.

Chu Mu Zhi also sat down in his seat with a look of displeasure on his face.

The three of them had different expressions on their faces, and none of them spoke. A strange dark surge surged in Zi Chen Palace.

Although everyone was puzzled about what had happened between them, none of them had the courage to speak. They could only let the surge continue wandering in the hall.

“Your Majesty has arrived.” At this moment, a shrill voice broke the awkwardness in the room.

Everyone stood up.

Chu Yanzhi put down the wine cup in his hand and looked lazily towards the outside of the hall. When he saw the two people following behind the Emperor, his gaze suddenly turned cold.

The emperor was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, his expression cold and solemn. Behind him, Imperial Consort Yan was dressed in a scarlet formal dress. Her skirt was covered in dark patterns embroidered with a phoenix embroidered with golden thread. There was a pair of Phoenix Ranking Pearl Steps stuck in her head. The space between her eyebrows was close to the flower. There was a majesty that could not be ignored as she walked. The other person behind the Emperor was also wearing a light purple floor-dragging suit. A head of green silk was tied into a flying bun. On the bun was only a jade phoenix-shaped hairpin with a rose-tied tongue. Even so, it could not conceal the nobility between her brows. And this person was Consort Shen, who had been grounded for a long time.

“Flat up.” The Emperor raised his hand and threatened.

Everyone sat down one by one.

Xiao Xiwei looked at the two noble imperial concubines sitting beside the emperor. They were the highest ranked imperial concubines in the harem, but at the same time, they were dissatisfied with the new crown prince, Chu Yanzhi.

The Emperor’s actions were clearly intended to intimidate and warn Chu Yanzhi.

Xiao Xiwei lowered her head and the corner of her eyes inadvertently swept past Chu Yanzhi. As soon as she saw his cold expression, the corner of her lips inadvertently curved into a trace of an undetectable sneer.

“Eh, Mu Zhi, why haven’t you seen Miss Gu?” Immediately after she sat down, Imperial Concubine Shen smiled and said to Chu Mu.

Not long ago, Concubine An had used this question to ask Prince Qin, but Prince Qin’s cold face almost made Concubine An unable to get off the stage. Coincidentally, someone asked this question again. This person was still Concubine Shen, who had just ungrounded.

Concubine An, who had just been humiliated by King Qin, immediately lifted her spirits when she heard Consort Shen’s words and looked as if she was waiting to see Consort Shen hit a nail on the head.

However, Chu Muzhi did not make her wish come true. He stood up and bowed to Consort Shen, who was sitting on the throne. He said indifferently, “If you return to Shen Mother, Qing You will go back if she feels a little unwell.”

Imperial Concubine Shen nodded and turned to Chun Xiu, who was beside her, and said, “Go, send Imperial doctor to the Gu Manor to show Miss Gu.”

“Yes.” Chun Xiu blessed herself and immediately turned around to instruct the palace servants.

“Thank you, Mother Concubine Shen.” Chu Muzhi raised his eyes and smiled at Imperial Concubine Shen.

Imperial Concubine Shen was originally the adoptive mother of Crown Prince Chu Yan, but since she sat down, she did not even look at the Crown Prince. Instead, she personally looked at King Qin. The reason for this was somewhat intriguing.

“Alright, it’s New Year’s Eve. There’s no need to bow down to us at the family banquet.” The Emperor smiled and waved his hand.

Imperial Concubine Yan and Imperial Concubine Shen looked at each other and smiled. At the same time, they stood up and picked up their wine glasses from the

Imperial Concubine Yan looked at Imperial Concubine Shen and smiled sweetly, “Why don’t you, little sister, please.”

Imperial Concubine Shen lowered her eyes and smiled back, “Then little sister is timid and disrespectful.” After saying that, she turned to the Emperor and smiled, “Your Majesty, this concubine wishes the Kingdom of Great Yue peace and prosperity, and the Emperor’s Saint Physique health.”

“Good! Good!” The Emperor smiled and took a sip of the wine that Consort Shen had toasted.

At this time, Imperial Consort Yan also took a step forward and smiled. “Sister told me everything I wanted to say. I wish the Emperor a bright new year and success.”

The last sentence was a success, but the meaning of the first sentence was self-evident.

When the Emperor heard this, his eyes slightly dimmed, but there was still a smile on his face. “Then I will accept the honored consort’s good words.” After saying that, he also took a glass of wine from her.

The two honored imperial concubines had already toasted, so the others naturally toasted according to their grades.

After that, a dancer came in to perform the dance.

The soft sound of silk and bamboo rang out, and the gorgeous dancers danced in the hall.

Xiao Xi raised his eyes slightly and looked at the three people at the head of the throne through the dancers. Whether it was the Emperor, Imperial Consort Yan, or Imperial Consort Shen, they were all watching the dance with high interest, and even occasionally chatting and laughing.

“Xiwei, what are you looking at?” At this moment, a low-pitched voice sounded by his side.

Xiao Xiwei didn’t need to think about it to know who was speaking. She smiled and looked at Chu Yanzhi. “What does Your Highness think I’m looking at?”

Chu Yanzhi turned the exquisite wine cup in his hand. The light liquid in the wine cup reflected his slender and long eyes and the sparkling smile in his eyes. “Xiwei, I really don’t dare to guess your thoughts.”

Hearing what Chu Yanzhi seemed to mean, Xiao Xiwei did not care. Instead, he smiled and said, “Your Highness, don’t you find it strange at all?”

“Oh? What’s so strange?” Chu Yanzhi raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Xiao Xiwei’s smile turned slightly cold as he raised his eyebrows and said, “Is Your Highness testing me?” Without waiting for Chu Yanzhi to reply, he turned to Consort Yan and said, “I always feel that Mother’s attitude towards me is wrong …”

Looking at the worry between Xiao Xiwei’s eyebrows, Chu Yanzhi couldn’t help but look at Consort Yan.

Imperial Concubine Yan’s perfect face could still be seen through the dancers. Even the curve of her lips was perfect. No one could tell that she had experienced the great pain of losing her son and grandson. Could it be that, as Xiao Xiwei had said, this New Year’s Eve banquet had a mystery?

Chu Yanzhi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he pondered. Suddenly, a cold light flashed in the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, dozens of people jumped in from the hall. They were holding sharp blades in their hands, and their figures were as fast as ghosts. Two dancers had already fallen into a pool of blood between the lightning and flint.

The thick smell of blood spread out in the hall, and the hall was filled with screams

“Assassin! Assassin! Quick, escort, escort!” Zhang Shichang, who was standing beside the throne, shouted.

These assassins were dressed in black and all of their skills were extraordinary, heading straight for the emperor on the throne. Chu Yanzhi’s eyes sank, and he and Chu Muzhi jumped up at the same time and blocked the Emperor’s path.

“Princess …” At this moment, only a shrill voice could be heard.

Chu Yanzhi separated the stabbing sword and took time to look in Xiao Xiwei’s direction. He saw three assassins in black heading straight for her. Zi Yan was fighting with two of them, while the other one was holding a sword and stabbing straight at her chest. At this moment, Xiao Xiwei’s face was deathly pale, and her meticulously combed hair was already in disarray. She looked at the sword with despair in her eyes …

“Xiwei!” Chu Yanzhi only felt that his bloodline had instantly condensed into ice. Just as he was about to charge towards her, several long swords attacked him again.

The sword finally pierced through.

However, it did not pierce Xiao Xiwei’s heart. At this critical moment, Hong Yu stretched out a hand and tugged at her forcefully. However, even so, the sword still stabbed into her arm, causing her blood to flow like a pillar. That person did not succeed in one strike, and turned back to the second strike. At this time, Zi Yan, who had sensed something was wrong, hurriedly moved aside one of them and took the opportunity to jump back to Xiao Xiwei’s side, holding the sword and guarding in front of Xiao Xiwei.

At this time, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Gu An, had already rushed over with his men.

The situation changed, and in an instant, an assassin had already died under the sword of the Imperial Guards.

Chu Yanzhi waved his sword and a wisp of bright red gushed out from the man’s neck. A few drops of dark red splashed onto his dark purple brocade robe. He quickly rushed into the hall, raised his eyes and shouted at Gu An with a calm face, “Leave him alive!”

His instincts told him that the assassins of the Zongde Palace must have come for him.

At this moment, Gu An’s expression was not very good. During his time on duty, the assassin had actually sneaked into His Highness the Zi Chen to assassinate the Emperor without anyone noticing. The only thing that was enough to cause his head to fall to the ground was his unfavorable protection. Therefore, when he heard Chu Yanzhi’s words, he hurriedly shouted with a heavy face, “Leave him alive! Leave him alive!”

As soon as this voice fell, the assassins in the hall glanced at each other. Then, they took out something from their sleeves and smashed it onto the ground. In an instant, smoke rose up.

“Hurry up and block the door. Be careful of letting the assassin escape.” In the smoke, only a loud sound could be heard.

In the midst of the chaos, there was only a burst of’hubbub ‘sound.

A moment later, the smoke dissipated, and there were many people lying on the ground. The smell of blood was thick in Zi Chen Palace.

Zi Yan hurriedly turned around and helped Xiao Xiwei up, “Princess, are you alright?”

Xiao Xi held her injured arm tightly and shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a burst of sobbing.

“Your Highness …”

Xiao Xiwei turned around and saw An Bin lying in a pool of blood with her eyes open, while her two palace maids were kneeling on the ground crying in sorrow. The other survivors hid in the corner with horror on their faces. No one noticed that An Bin, who had just been chatting and laughing, had disappeared.

“Crown Prince, those people have escaped. Looks like they have all come prepared.” Gu An hurriedly walked in front of Chu Yan and said with an extremely difficult expression.

If nothing happened and the assassins could be captured to atone for their crimes, then even the Emperor’s punishment would not be too heavy. Now that an concubine had died, although her status was not high, she was still the master of the palace. Moreover, the assassins had escaped. It seemed that he could not escape today. At this moment, Gu An could only place all his hopes on Crown Prince Chu Yanzhi, hoping that he could help him at the critical moment.

Chu Yanzhi never thought that Gu An would be able to think of this. He glared at Gu An coldly and said, “Go, see if there is anyone alive lying down!” After saying that, he raised his foot and walked quickly towards the throne.

Gu An was stunned for a moment, then a glimmer of hope suddenly flashed in his eyes. He quickly turned around and ordered his men to check if the assassins lying in the hall were still alive.

“Father, are you alright?”

“Father, are you alright?”

Two voices sounded at the same time.