The Blood Crown - Chapter 144

When Yan Sikong woke up, it was already close to noon. His back still ached, but it was much better than yesterday. Feeling stifled in the tent, he propped himself up and staggered outside.

The young eunuch from the East Palace was startled to see him and quickly came over to support him. “Oh, Master Yan, why are you up? Your injuries are not healed yet.”

“It’s nothing serious. I just need some fresh air.”

“You mustn’t scare me like this. His Highness wants you to rest properly. If anything happens to you, I can’t bear the responsibility,” the eunuch said as he quickly brought over a chair for Yan Sikong to sit on.

“It’s fine. I just want to stretch my legs. I’ll head back after lunch,” Yan Sikong said. From a distance, he saw an eunuch carrying a wooden basin leave Feng Jianping’s tent. The eunuch kept glancing at it and wrinkling his nose, clearly the basin’s contents had an unpleasant odor.

The young eunuch followed his gaze and said, “Prince Jingyuan drank too much last night.”

“It looks like he drank quite a bit.”

“Yes, His Majesty held a farewell banquet for Prince Jingyuan. Many people were toasting him, and he’s probably just now waking up from his drunken stupor.”

“And the heir?”

“The heir is young. He drank heavily last night but still went hunting early this morning.”

Yan Sikong nodded. “I hope His Highness returns with a full load today.” Though he spoke of the Crown Prince, his thoughts were on the heir, Feng Ye. He must be very worried. Nowadays, even talking was difficult for them.

Yan Sikong basked in the warm spring sun, gazing at the endless mountains and forests. Occasionally, a gentle breeze stirred the trees, making them sway in unison as if guided by an invisible hand.

This was a very peaceful scene, but when a flock of birds suddenly flew up from the forest, Yan Sikong’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a shiver. He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, as if there were hidden dangers lurking in the serene woods, where Feng Ye and Chen Li were hunting, yet they seemed like trapped prey.

He felt uneasy and didn’t want to look at the forest anymore. “Help me back inside,” he said in a low voice.

“You must be hungry, Master Yan. I’ll prepare lunch for you right away. You should eat first and then take your medicine,” the young eunuch said.

Back in the tent, a sumptuous meal was soon served. Yan Sikong ate silently, but the strong sense of unease lingered, making the delicious food taste like wax.

Halfway through his meal, a commotion erupted outside the tent, followed by the sound of a bugle. His heart sank, and he dropped his chopsticks, rushing out of the tent despite the pain from his injuries, which made his face turn pale.

He saw several teams surrounding the royal tent with layers of guards, and Zhu Lanting was shouting commands to the infantry to form ranks. Another team quickly assembled and galloped toward the hunting grounds.

Yan Sikong grabbed the young eunuch. “What’s happening?”

The young eunuch looked equally panicked and confused. “I don’t know, Master Yan.”

The entire camp was in chaos, with many people running out of their tents, looking around bewilderedly.

In the midst of the chaos, Yan Sikong heard Zhu Lanting shouting “Protect the Emperor.”

Protect the Emperor? Protect what?

Yan Sikong felt a cold chill. He couldn’t figure out what had happened, but he sensed that something serious, something very bad, was unfolding.

Ignoring the eunuch’s attempts to stop him, Yan Sikong headed toward the royal tent to inquire directly from Zhu Lanting.

But before he could get close, a line of spears blocked his path. “No one is allowed near the royal tent!”

“I need to see Commander Zhu,” Yan Sikong said loudly.

The guards sternly replied, “No one is allowed near the royal tent.”

“What on earth is happening?”

“Master Yan, Master Yan,” the young eunuch pulled at Yan Sikong’s sleeve in fear, pointing behind him.

Yan Sikong turned around to see a group of people surrounding Feng Jianping’s tent!

Yan Sikong felt as if his blood had been drained instantly, trembling uncontrollably. The guards’ spears were not pointed outward as they would be for the royal tent, but inward!

He had only one thought—It’s too late. Whatever has happened, Emperor Zhao Wu has acted against Feng Jianping, against the Feng family, right now!

He felt the world spinning, and he had to hold onto the slender arm of the young eunuch to steady himself.

“Master Yan, are you alright?”

Yan Sikong stared with wide eyes. “Go find out what’s happening right now!”

“Uh…”

“Hurry!” Yan Sikong shouted.

The young eunuch, terrified, ran off.

Yan Sikong’s mind was in turmoil, but he pinched himself to force calm, enduring the pain as he tried to find Yan Zilian.

However, he was stopped by the guards shortly after leaving the tent and told that the Emperor had issued a decree for everyone to return to their tents and not wander about.

Yan Sikong anxiously asked, “What’s happening?”

“Master Yan, please return…”

Yan Sikong grabbed the guard by the armor, growling fiercely, “What’s happening?”

The guard, frightened, replied, “The Feng army… has rebelled. They attempted to storm the hunting grounds to assassinate His Majesty.”

Yan Sikong felt as if struck by lightning. His legs gave way, and he fell to the ground.

“Someone, take Master Yan back to his tent.”

The Feng army… rebelling…

Feng Jianping was still in the camp, and Feng Ye would never act recklessly without them. How could the Feng army possibly rebel?

A mere two thousand men wouldn’t dare openly revolt.

The only possibility was that they had been framed!

Yan Sikong immediately recalled what the young eunuch had said about Feng Jianping and his son being heavily drunk last night. Previously, when he discussed palace intrigue with Feng Ye, Feng Ye had mentioned that Feng Jianping’s military seal was always carried on him, hidden in his belt. It wouldn’t be hard to steal it.

If someone had stolen Feng Jianping’s military seal and used it to mobilize those two thousand soldiers to storm the hunting grounds, they would be left without a way to defend themselves!

Yan Sikong felt an icy chill. He knew Emperor Zhao Wu and Xie Zhongren had struck preemptively. He hadn’t anticipated that his worst fears would come to pass so swiftly. No, he should have been more vigilant. How could Emperor Zhao Wu let the tiger go free?

Yan Sikong’s hairs stood on end as he was engulfed by an overwhelming sense of fear and cold dread, feeling as he did when facing the execution platform in Yuan Mao.

What should he do? What about the Feng family? What about Feng Ye? They want Feng Ye dead!

Yan Sikong gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with determination. Whatever happens, even if he must risk his life and everything he has worked for over the years, he will not let Feng Ye die. He has lost everyone he cares about, and he will not allow Xie Zhongren to take Feng Ye as well!

AN – Finally, it’s written. It’s like reinforcing the foundation with sand, and now the construction is about to begin. (End of Chapter)