Chapter 588: Greatly Provoked
Xiang Minghou doted on Ye Qianning to the bone. Even if the little girl asked for his life, he would give it to her with a smile.
If he were to find out about Ye Qianning’s death, what kind of madness would he unleash?
A shiver ran through Sang Yan. He didn’t dare to imagine it. Gazing at the people covering the mountain, he raised his hand with a grave expression. "Men! Take Yuan Yintang into custody for now. He will await the Emperor’s judgment."
"Yes."
A guard saluted and led a team down the mountain to apprehend Yuan Yintang.
"Withdraw the troops."
The mountain was covered in soldiers. The ground was a muddy mess, and casualties were heavy.
Rain fell, washing away the blood that mixed with the scorched ash of the mountain.
"I’ll kill you!" Sang Zhi’s face was a mask of rage as he slashed at the soldiers.
None of the soldiers dared to raise a hand against the Eighth Prince; they could only dodge again and again.
Sang Zhi didn’t know any martial arts. He just brandished the sword, hacking about senselessly, completely consumed by madness.
"Eighth Brother, stop!" Sang Yan tried to approach but was nearly struck by the longsword again.
"You killed her! You all deserve to die! All of you!" Sang Zhi shrieked, his gray eyes bloodshot and his face twisted in a snarl.
"Eighth Brother." An indescribable ache pierced Sang Yan’s heart. Finding an opening, he rushed forward and wrapped his arms around the tiny figure.
"Let go of me! I’ll kill you!"
"Eighth Brother, snap out of it! Look at me! It’s me, your Third Brother!" Sang Yan held him tight, trying to bring him to his senses.
Sang Zhi struggled, then opened his mouth and bit down on Sang Yan’s wrist. The coppery taste of blood instantly filled his mouth.
Despite the searing pain from his wrist, Sang Yan held on tight, not loosening his grip in the slightest. "Eighth Brother, look at me. It’s your Third Brother. Look at me."
Sang Zhi’s teeth didn’t loosen their grip. He was like a crazed lion, deaf to anyone’s words.
"Your Highness," a guard said with concern.
Sang Yan shook his head. "I’m fine. He’s suffered a great shock."
The guard’s eyes fell on the bleeding arm. ’Does the Eighth Prince intend to tear off a piece of His Highness’s flesh before he’ll be satisfied?’
"Eighth Brother, look. Ye Qianning is already going down the mountain," Sang Yan said softly, lowering his head slightly.
The pressure of Sang Zhi’s bite on his arm suddenly eased. He looked up, stunned.
"Ye Qianning has already gone down the mountain. She’s going home. Why don’t you go see her off, Eighth Brother?"
Sang Zhi released his bite. He stared blankly at the departing procession in the distance, his fierce little face instantly filling with panic. He scrambled to his feet and ran down the mountain. "She can’t leave! She can’t leave! I don’t want her to go...!"
Sang Yan’s expression was grave. ’The Eighth Prince is in a very bad state. I still don’t understand what exactly happened here.’
’Did Ye Qianning really lure the Eighth Prince out of the city?’
’How could that be possible!’
’Even if it was just a case of mischievous children sneaking out of the city, it’s not such a serious matter. Yet, Father Emperor issued a decree to seal the General’s manor, threw everyone from the manor into the dungeons, and even dispatched Yuan Yintang with a thousand men from the military command to conduct the search.’
’Father Emperor has never been fond of the Eighth Prince, so why the sudden, massive mobilization?’
In the distance, a figure in red stood motionless, his gaze following the small boy within the crowd.
His eyes held a trace of disbelief, but also immense regret.
’If only he had gone with her just now, the little girl wouldn’t have...’
"Master," the guard in close-fitting attire called out softly.
Feng Xiuyi’s expression was frigid. He clutched the emerald in his hand. ’A living, breathing person one moment, gone the next.’
Something tugged at a place deep in his heart. It was a strange, unsettling feeling—one he did not like.
The guard in the close-fitting attire didn’t dare to breathe too loudly. ’The master seems furious.’
’Just before, they had overheard a conversation—that the men from the military command had surrounded the little girl’s party. The master had rushed back immediately, but he was still a step too late.’
’Such a lovely child, gone in the blink of an eye. What a true pity.’