Chapter 708 - 707: He Really Came
Pu Yangji was stunned, hurriedly said, "Please forgive me, young master, it’s my overstep!"
Huangfu Yuxuan glanced at him and said coolly, "Everything is ready, right?"
How could he not know that the support from a Jianghu leader can’t compare to that provided by a Court minister? But that depends on the situation!
Not to mention Xia Wenjin, whose identity is special; Gongyang Puyu had used his vital essence, at the cost of shortening his life, to divine that Xia Wenjin would be the one to help accomplish his great enterprise. Even Haotian Village’s support is stronger than Grand Tutor Zhao’s right now.
Because his father is no longer the Crown Prince! He needs to prepare several plans!
Seeing the young master no longer pursue the matter, Pu Yangji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Everything is properly arranged!"
Huangfu Yuxuan glanced once more towards the city gate; there was still no movement there.
Pu Yangji was also looking in the direction of the city gate. He wasn’t a talkative person, but he was somewhat worried and couldn’t help but say, "The Prince Cheng’s Heir won’t refuse to come, will he?"
Huangfu Yuxuan slightly furrowed his brows, calculating the time: Prince Zhuang would make a quick decision upon receiving the news because he wants a swift resolution and to clear himself of any involvement.
Then Prince Zhuang will surely set up a setup to kill the intended target, then use himself as a "scapegoat."
He must have also sent a message to Huangfu Jingchen; knowing Prince Zhuang, he would definitely make good use of Xia Wenjin to force Huangfu Jingchen to come alone, without guards.
The only possible variable for this opportunity is whether Huangfu Jingchen will come. If he comes, everything would go as planned.
But what if Huangfu Jingchen doesn’t come?
He couldn’t help but put himself in Huangfu Jingchen’s position to think: if it were him, he wouldn’t come! Even if Xia Wenjin was a rare fortune-bringer who could help him achieve greatness. But Gongyang Puyu also said, although stars are set, they can change.
Xia Wenjin’s fate might change; so could his fate, like major accidents happening, crippling him, or worse, resulting in his death!
Would he risk his life for a woman?
He wouldn’t!
Then, Huangfu Jingchen won’t refuse to come, would he?
Huangfu Yuxuan’s eyes revealed turbulent waves; after a while, he said, "He will come!"
Huangfu Jingchen will definitely come!
He had confidence in himself.
Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t raised in the Capital City. It is said that Yunzhou Cheng Prince Mansion had no concubines or mistresses, Prince Cheng’s two sons and daughter were all legitimate, so he hadn’t gone through the swirling intrigues of the Capital City.
Huangfu Jingchen’s mother was Jianghu-born, and his father was that Fifth Imperial Uncle who acted without regard for consequences. Children raised by such parents inherently have some degree of hot-blooded impulsiveness.
Though publicly Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin seemed not closely connected, Huangfu Yuxuan could discern something different from their occasional eye contact.
So he was very sure Huangfu Jingchen would definitely come!
Just as he uttered those three words, a single rider galloped from the direction of the city gate.
From afar, he couldn’t make out the facial features of the person on horseback, but Huangfu Yuxuan’s worry was fully laid aside now.
Everything was still unfolding according to his plan.
As he watched the rider get closer to Fengming Manor, Huangfu Yuxuan found it peculiar and said, "Prince Zhuang is so patient this time?"
Surprisingly no action yet?
Could it be that he plans to act only when Huangfu Jingchen is farther from the city gate or on his departure?
Fengming Manor is his domain; Prince Zhuang couldn’t have planted his people here.
So if he plans to act, it will only be along the road.
One rider galloped closer to Fengming Manor - seven hundred yards, five hundred yards, three hundred yards...
Huangfu Jingchen appeared here, and alone without guards, meaning Prince Zhuang had already set up the trap, yet his people were slow to act.
Huangfu Yuxuan furrowed his brow, ordering, "Tell someone to go see what’s happening over there, and if Prince Zhuang’s people don’t act, ours shouldn’t either!"
Prince Zhuang not acting indicates only one possibility: he doesn’t trust Gongyang Puyu that much, testing to see if anyone plans to be the bird catching the worm after him; if his people act, not only will they fail to direct blame to Prince Zhuang, but they’ll expose themselves.
He wants Huangfu Jingchen dead but won’t act himself; only Prince Zhuang can.
Prince Zhuang not acting, he won’t act either!
Let’s see who gets anxious first!
Huangfu Yuxuan’s brows furrowed deeper, as Huangfu Jingchen advanced another two hundred yards, then would be within the manor.
Could it be Prince Zhuang’s people plan to act inside the manor?
If they act within the manor, none of his people in the manor will survive. Although Fengming Manor is under someone unrelated’s name, even tracing back won’t lead to him, but because Xia Wenjin is confined here, those stationed in the manor are all meticulously trained elites.
The Four Beauties who are effective at their job, he dispatched three here.
If Prince Zhuang doesn’t act, once Huangfu Jingchen reaches Fengming Courtyard, Fengming Courtyard’s people will certainly act, and Xia Wenjin will surely side with him.
Either he takes Xia Wenjin away, or he dies in front of Xia Wenjin. If Xia Wenjin knows he died to save her, she’ll feel guilty, even if he marries her, she’ll still remember him.
If he doesn’t die, then he will certainly rescue Xia Wenjin; the grace of life-saving will make Xia Wenjin even more grateful to him, won’t it?
As Huangfu Yuxuan pondered how to prevent this scenario, he heard Huangfu Jingchen’s horse shriek, falling to the ground.
Huangfu Jingchen’s body suddenly lost balance, and he flew forward.
However, unfazed, he performed two mid-air somersaults, dissipating the force, landing on the ground.
Arrows shot swiftly towards Huangfu Jingchen’s direction; in mid-air, Huangfu Jingchen pulled out the soft sword from his waist, slicing or deflecting the arrows.
Simultaneously, more than a dozen masked figures jumped out from the bushes, each wielding weapons, charging towards Huangfu Jingchen.
Seeing this, Huangfu Yuxuan let out a sigh of relief. Two hundred yards away from Fengming Manor, Prince Zhuang’s people hadn’t disappointed him, they intercepted him on the road.
He stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching Huangfu Jingchen, surrounded and handling it calmly, with a slight smirk on his lips, the self-satisfaction and pride of a successful plot.
He knew, after intercepting Huangfu Jingchen, in order to direct blame towards him, make him the scapegoat, these people will certainly rush into Fengming Manor to silence Xia Wenjin, and even kill everyone in the whole manor, that’s when he will act.
Huangfu Jingchen, amidst the siege, was undeterred; along the way, he had already cleared four ambushes, this fifth round, they didn’t have time to clear, but no matter; he would personally handle this one.
The soft sword in his hand struck east and west, though facing over a dozen people, Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t overwhelmed! Seeing Fengming Manor in the distance, his gaze grew more steady, yet beneath the steadiness was a poised, sharp killing intent ready to erupt.