Chapter 512: Dudu Takes Action
Chapter 512: Dudu Takes Action
Prince Jin looked at his son standing before him and then at the masked man carrying Lu Zhaoyan, his brow furrowing.
If Lu Qi is here, who is this man who saved Lu Zhaoyan?
In a flash, Prince Jin reached out and pulled off the masked man’s veil.
A face that was all too familiar came into view.
The masked man instinctively tried to turn away.
Lu Zhaoyan whispered, “Don’t move.”
The masked man clenched his fingers and stopped his evasive action.
There are two Lu Qis... Prince Jin was even more shocked.
“Good heavens, you’re impersonating me! Father, be careful!”
The Lu Qi in rich brocade clothing quickly stepped in front of Prince Jin, his gaze cold and piercing as he stared at the masked man. “Who are you? Why are you impersonating me? Speak!”
“Too afraid to speak? Worried your voice will give you away?”
Prince Jin frowned.
Indeed, the masked man had not spoken since he appeared.
In contrast, the Lu Qi in front of him spoke without any change in his voice.
Prince Jin was no stranger to disguise techniques, but there were very few who could mimic a voice so convincingly.
Lu Qi's expression turned icy. “I want to see who has the audacity to impersonate me in the imperial city.”
With that, he struck out at the masked man with a palm.
The masked man raised an arm to block, but Lu Qi, with a swift move, grabbed his wrist.
At the same time, Lu Qi swept his sleeve across the masked man’s face.
In the next moment, Lu Qi held a human skin mask in his hand.
He stepped back a few paces, standing beside Prince Jin, and looked at the masked man with unwavering certainty. “Lu Linyuan, I never expected it to be you!”
Prince Jin looked closely.
The face of the masked man could belong to no one else but Lu Linyuan.
Lu Qi handed the human skin mask to Prince Jin. “Father, this is my human skin mask. Thankfully, we uncovered him in time, or our relationship might have been damaged by this young man!”
“Father, we have both the witness and the evidence. Let’s take Second Uncle and Eldest Brother to see Grandfather and let him decide the matter!”
Prince Jin’s suspicious gaze shifted between Lu Qi and Lu Linyuan.
Lu Qi turned to the group of mysterious experts behind Prince Jin. “Don’t just stand there, capture them!”
Before anyone could react, a sharp sword qi split the air.
Lu Qi quickly shielded Prince Jin. “Father, be careful!”
Silent Wind descended from the sky, struck Lu Qi, and successfully took the masked man and Lu Zhaoyan away.
Lu Qi clutched his chest, fell to one knee, and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Prince Jin’s brow furrowed. Just as he was about to order a pursuit of Lu Zhaoyan, he paused. “Are you badly injured?”
Lu Qi panted, “He didn’t strike to kill. My injuries are not severe. It’s just that I was already wounded from the competition with Lu Linyuan today, and it was aggravated. Father, you don’t need to worry.”
His words reassured Prince Jin and explained why Silent Wind had managed to succeed.
Lu Qi said remorsefully, “I let them escape. I am useless.”
Prince Jin replied, “It’s not your fault. Silent Wind is the most skilled palace guard under Grandfather’s command. It’s not easy to stop him, especially with your old injuries. I thought you only had superficial wounds... If you had internal injuries, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Lu Qi remained silent.
Prince Jin sighed, “The matter of the competition is over. Don’t dwell on it. In three days, you will regain your Qilin status.”
Lu Qi whispered, “Yes, Father.”
Prince Jin added, “Get in the carriage, and let’s return home.”
Lu Qi nodded.
After they boarded the carriage, Prince Jin lifted the curtain and gave a signal to the experts.
They understood and split into two groups, disappearing into the night.
Silent Wind did not take them far. Instead, he led them through a back door into a brothel.
Lu Zhaoyan’s face darkened. “Silent Wind!”
Silent Wind set him and the masked man down and bowed. “The situation is urgent, and a brothel is the easiest place to hide. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
“Quick thinking.”
Ji Li, fanning himself leisurely, walked out.
He wore a hood that concealed his silver hair.
Si She, standing beside him, also wore a hood and was dressed as a disciple of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.
This was not done to frame the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.
It just so happened that a disciple of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion was nearby. Why bother stealing clothes when you can simply buy them?
"They're catching up."
Silent Wind said.
"Leave it to us. You take the Crown Prince and..."
Ji Li’s words trailed off as he shot a half-smile at the man in black. "Huang Changsun, back to the Crown Prince's Mansion."
He emphasized Huang Changsun’s name.
The man in black’s eyes flickered slightly.
Ji Li and Si She left the brothel.
The man in black intended to untie the clothes binding him and hand Lu Zhaoyan over to Silent Wind.
Lu Zhaoyan spoke up, "Can you still walk?"
The man in black turned his head, glancing at Lu Zhaoyan over his shoulder.
Lu Zhaoyan said, "I’m asking if you can still walk."
The man in black looked at Silent Wind.
Lu Zhaoyan said, "Silent Wind, take some men and rescue the Lady."
Silent Wind frowned, "Your Highness, you—"
Lu Zhaoyan spoke with authority, "Yuan'er, take me back to the mansion."
Silent Wind’s gaze turned wary as he looked at the man in black.
Despite having a face identical to Lu Yuan’s and despite the Crown Prince calling him Yuan'er, everyone knew he wasn’t the real Lu Linyuan.
Lu Zhaoyan said sternly, "What are you waiting for? If anything happens to the Lady, I won’t live either."
Silent Wind: "..."
Silent Wind left.
Lu Zhaoyan lay on his back, "Do you remember the way back to the mansion?"
The man in black didn’t speak.
The cool moonlight fell on his shoulders, like a layer of frost.
---
Prince Jin and his son returned to Prince Jin’s mansion by carriage.
Prince Jin summoned a physician to tend to his son’s wounds.
The physician first took his pulse, then treated the injuries on the Prince’s hands.
Throughout the process, Prince Jin stood by the bed. When he saw the wound on the palm, left from the Horseback Archery Contest, the last bit of doubt in his eyes vanished.
He called the physician to the courtyard, "Doctor Zhou, how serious are Qi'er’s injuries?"
Doctor Zhou replied, "The Prince of the Commandery is skilled in martial arts; these injuries won’t hinder him. However..."
"However what?"
Prince Jin asked.
Doctor Zhou sighed, "The physical injuries are treated, but the mental ones are harder to heal. The Prince of the Commandery has liver qi stagnation. This Competition has likely taken a significant toll on him. Your Highness should help him relax and ease his mind."
Prince Jin nodded, "I understand. Attend to Doctor Zhou."
After Doctor Zhou left, Prince Jin entered Lu Qi’s room.
Lu Qi, instead of lying in bed as the physician recommended, sat by the window, idly counting stars.
The moment he heard footsteps behind him, he spat out the dogtail grass in his mouth, his expression turning melancholic and listless.
Prince Jin walked to his son and asked softly, "Qi'er, what are you thinking about?"
Lu Qi countered, "Father, were you testing me tonight?"
Prince Jin was taken aback.
Lu Qi smiled bitterly, "So, I’m not even worth trusting in your eyes."
Prince Jin took a deep breath, "Father never doubted you. The assassination attempt on Lu Zhaoyan was real, and the poisoning was real."
He asked, "Did you succeed?"
Prince Jin replied, "Almost. But don’t worry, in three days, Father will definitely restore your Qilin status!"
Ha ha ha ha, the performance is on. Can you guess who it is? It’s the end of the month, everyone, let’s give some cheers, okay?
(End of Chapter)
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