readytorunbook Chapter 114 What is Zhou Yuan planning to do?
Chapter 114 What is Zhou Yuan planning to do?
Zhou Yuan returned to the palace and dispatched his most capable secret guards to investigate. He also recalled the secret guards who were protecting Su Yinyin.
After waiting for a long time, the bodyguard was finally helped back.
These two guards were sent by Zhou Yuan to secretly protect Su Yinyin. Why are they in such an injured state?
The two guards, supporting each other, bowed to Zhou Yuan. Seeing their pale faces, Zhou Yuan ordered them to sit down and answer his questions.
"Your Highness, at 9:00 AM today, Miss Su and her companions were ambushed and assassinated by thugs on their way back to the Su residence after leaving the Duke's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan frowned, a hint of worry and anger flashing in his eyes. "Was Miss Su injured? And how did you all get injured like this?"
One of the guards replied, "Miss Su has a formidable expert by her side. Before the villains even got close to the carriage, he single-handedly severed the tendons in all of their hands and feet."
Zhou Yuan clenched his fist. "Do you know who did this?" The guard shook his head, indicating that he did not know.
Zhou Yuan asked, puzzled, "Then why were you injured?"
“Your Highness, we thought that after severing their tendons, Miss Su and the others would wait for the officials to arrive. But unexpectedly, a mysterious force suddenly suppressed those thugs. We were also ravaged by that force, and our internal organs were injured,” another guard said.
Zhou Yuan was puzzled. "Power, you two are quite skilled in martial arts among the secret guards, how come you couldn't resist?"
"There's absolutely no room for resistance, Your Highness. Could this be similar to what happened on the way back to the capital from the Duke's mansion...!"
"Shut up, you all go and rest and recover." After the guards left.
Zhou Yuan was in his study, quietly pondering the guard's words. He found things were becoming increasingly interesting!
So he made a decision. He opened the secret room in his study. He used a luminous pearl to light his way through various mechanisms.
They had just entered the depths of the secret chamber. There were some treasures that had been lost to the martial arts world for a long time, as well as various intelligence files.
After searching for a long time, Zhou Yuan finally found a booklet that recorded strange martial arts techniques.
The aforementioned evil technique bears a striking resemblance to the mysterious power described by the secret guards.
This evil technique requires special formations to execute, and the practitioner must be severely injured to control such a powerful yet insidious force.
Zhou Yuan speculated that there must be a mastermind behind all this, and it all seemed to have emerged after Su Yinyin appeared.
He decided to go to the Su residence that night, firstly to see if Su Yinyin was truly safe and sound, and secondly to see if the Su family knew any clues.
Not long after Zhou Yuan returned to his study, the steward of the Prince's mansion came to report that Princess Anyang was in the prison, acting erratically, and might have developed madness.
"Throw her to her doorstep."
After receiving the order, the butler hurriedly went to carry it out.
The secret guards who were sent out to investigate today's events have returned.
The guard stood before Zhou Yuan and said respectfully, "We have a lead on the person who sent people to assassinate Miss Su today. It should be the work of the Imperial Noble Consort."
Zhou Yuan was incredulous; he had just warned his mother. He never expected her to turn around and immediately turn on Su Yinyin.
On his way back after seeing Su Yinyin, he secretly vowed to find the mastermind behind it all and not let anyone who dared to harm someone he cared about get away with it.
Now, one is the person who gave him birth and raised him, and the other is the person he loves.
How could he choose? After a moment of silence, Zhou Yuan clenched his fists, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "I will not allow anyone to harm Yinyin, not even my mother."
The guard lowered his head and remained silent, knowing the prince's inner turmoil.
The Su residence was bustling with activity. Everyone was sitting on the sofa in the living room.
The old lady kept praising Su Yinyin's house for being warm, having novel decorations, and having never seen anything like it before.
"Grandmother, is Sister Yinyin alright here? Even in this cold weather, as long as she's indoors, she doesn't need to wear such thick clothes."
Even after dark, the room is as bright as day.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Su Yinyin got up and opened it. The fifth brother said, "Miss, the Regent is here again."
"Is there something he needs?"
“Miss, he didn’t say. He just kept emphasizing that he wouldn’t leave if he didn’t see you.”
Su Yinyin thought for a moment, then said, "Take him to the flower hall next door and wait there."
Su Yinyin straightened her clothes and walked towards the flower hall. Zhou Yuan saw her enter and immediately stood up. "Yinyin, I know that what happened today was done by my mother, and I will definitely protect you."
Su Yinyin frowned slightly. "Your Highness, this is your family matter. I don't want to get involved in royal disputes."
Zhou Yuan said urgently, "Yinyin, how can you say that? You are the most important person in my heart."
Su Yinyin snorted and said, "Your Highness, your words are eloquent, but your actions are terrible."
"Yinyin, I...!"
“Your Highness, your mother has attempted to assassinate me twice. I have already given her two chances out of consideration for the baby and for you. If she still doesn’t stop, then I will show no mercy.” Su Yinyin looked at Zhou Yuan with a cold gaze.
Zhou Yuan looked guilty. "Yinyin, I will go back and persuade Mother Consort properly. There will definitely not be a next time."
Su Yinyin gently shook her head, "Your Highness, don't think I'm just a weak woman who can be manipulated at will. If you really push me too far, I won't be a pushover either."
Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, "Yinyin, I understand. I'll go back and handle this matter right away. But you must believe in my sincerity."
Su Yinyin turned her back to him and said, "Your Highness, your sincerity is worthless."
Zhou Yuan had no choice but to leave the Su residence. He went straight to his mother's palace.
His mother was leisurely sipping tea, as if she had everything under control. "Mother, I hope you will stop here and stop targeting Su Yinyin."
The Empress Dowager put down her teacup, her face full of disdain. "Hmph, a mere woman has managed to bewitch my son like this."
Zhou Yuan knelt down, "Mother, I can't live without her. If you hurt her again, I will fight to the death."
The Empress Dowager was shocked; she never expected her son to be so resolute for a woman.
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened. "You're going against me like this for her sake?"
Zhou Yuan, who had been kneeling on the ground, slowly stood up and looked at his mother, who seemed completely unfamiliar to him.
Zhou Yuan slowly spoke: "Mother, you used to treat me with gentleness and love, why have you become so cruel now?"
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at Zhou Yuan and cursed, "You unfilial son, how dare you question me for the sake of an outsider!"
Zhou Yuan remained unmoved. "Mother, Yinyin is not an outsider. I want to spend my life with her. If you continue to interfere, I will have no choice but to stay away from you."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of panic crossed the Empress Dowager's eyes. She knew her son's temperament well; once he made a decision, it was difficult to change it.
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Fine, Yuan'er, since you are so persistent, I will not make things difficult for her any further."
Zhou Yuan was delighted to hear this. But just as he was feeling pleased, the Empress Dowager's words brought him back to reality.
"I won't make things difficult for her. But Su Yinyin won't let me off the hook."