Chapter 90: Calamity from Heaven

  The cries of summer were drowned out by the surrounding noise, and she watched as Qing Ming stepped closer and closer to danger, while she was still a distance away from him.

  The corner of his clothes had caught fire, and one foot was already on the edge of the bonfire.

  "Darkness!" Seeing that he could no longer stop it, Xia Tian rushed forward in a flurry of anxiety.

  Qing Ming was suddenly knocked down, and the body covering his was warm and soft. The fragrance that filled his nostrils was one he knew all too well. His heart skipped a beat as he felt such intimacy for the first time, aside from Long Chui. He even felt a hint of sweetness.

  "Are you okay?"

  A soft and gentle voice sounded above his head, followed by a small, icy hand grasping his. The weight on him lightened, and he was lifted up by a gentle force. He stood up dazedly, "Be careful!" A delicate cry, and he was pulled aside again.

  Soldiers like wolves and tigers, carrying knives and swords, rushed towards this side, with the palace guards closely following behind. Xia Tian's heart was racing wildly, looking around in all directions, but for a moment couldn't distinguish east, south, west or north, and simply pulled Qing Ming to run wildly.

  "Bang!" Qing Ming's head hit the pillar, and Xia Tian was pulled back by his force. She turned around to see him covering his forehead in pain. After a moment of stunned silence, she couldn't help but slap her own forehead and rushed over with a look of distress. She had been too hasty and forgotten that he was blind. "Are you okay? Let me take a look." She pulled away his hand, and his forehead was red and swollen. "It's all red, does it hurt?" She stood on tiptoes and gently blew air onto his forehead, her slender palm also reaching up to gently massage it.

  His face flushed with heat, his heartbeat skipped a few beats, and under the sudden gasp for air, he abruptly pushed her away, coldly turning his face aside: "Don't bother about me, you escape on your own."

  "That's no good, I won't leave you behind." Xia Tian changed to holding his arm.

  "The azure sky was still, and with a low, hoarse voice, he said, 'Take me with you, I'll become your burden.'"

  Xia Tian smiled lightly and grasped his arm tightly. "If we can't escape, then let's die together."

  His eyelids trembled with his closed eyes, and a similar scene from many years ago flashed into his mind: A boy holding his hand firmly told him, "If we can't escape, let's die together."

  In the secret room of the Yuans' mansion, Yuan Longkui and Yuan Longquan sat in their chairs, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the black-clad man pacing back and forth inside.

  "What's your plan? You'd better say it!" Yuan Longkui impatiently spoke up first.

  "Foolish! Extremely foolish!" The wind hat was pressed extremely low, only faintly revealing the mocking thin lips.

  "What?" Yuan Longkui raised his chin with great dissatisfaction, "This time Lao San will be skinned alive even if he doesn't die. If luck is on our side, we might be able to get rid of him once and for all."

  "Will the people around him just stand by and do nothing?"

  "As long as you don't help him, he can't stir up trouble!" Yuan Long hummed heavily in anger. "Moreover, even if something happens, the worst that can happen is to shift the blame onto Fourth Brother's shoulders. Don't worry, no matter what, this matter won't implicate us. Second Brother, what do you think?"

  When they disagreed, Yuan Longquan never meddled, but this time he was clearly more inclined towards Yuan Longkui. "I think big brother's move is risky, but it's the best way for us to get the Huasibao Seal."

  The man in black glanced at him sideways, sneering: "Are you so sure that the Flower Silk Treasure Ring can be found in the Ling Wang Fu? Jiang Zhen returned empty-handed, and those useless people from the Ministry of Punishment will definitely be able to find it?"

  Yuan Longkui and Yuan Longquan both had a stiff face upon hearing the words. After swallowing hard, Yuan Longkui still argued strongly: "He doesn't have it on him, how could the mansion possibly not have it?"

  "Hmph! If he didn't exist, he wouldn't be able to die. And if he doesn't die, then the two most important pawns we laid out in the palace will be the ones to die!"

  His face changed several times, and Yuan Longkui's originally gloomy face became even more gloomy. "Where is the old fourth?"

  "Him?" The man in black sneered, curling the corner of his mouth. "He won't be a problem for us to worry about. After this matter is over, someone will make sure he completely loses his qualifications to contend for the throne."

  Her arm was suddenly grabbed by someone and Xia Tian's scream almost pierced her throat.

  "Miss, it's Feng Lü."

  Xiatian was surprised and grasped her hand tightly, asking with concern: "How did you end up here? Are you okay?"

  Phoenix Orchid? ! Qing Ming turned his head sideways, quietly paying attention to her movements.

  "It's nothing." Looking at her hand being tightly held by Xia Tian, Feng Li's heart couldn't help but feel moved.

  "Quickly!" Qing Meng frowned impatiently, but his body instinctively took on a protective stance, shielding Xia Tian behind him.

  Feng Hui came back to her senses and pointed to a small path in front of them. "We can leave the mansion from that way."

  Qing Meng hesitated for a moment, and then followed Feng He quickly walking away with him.

  As soon as the three of them left the gate, they ran into Yuan Longyun who was rushing over. He rode his horse at the front, with several guards wearing bright armor following behind him. When he saw Xia Tian, he immediately jumped off his horse and rushed forward to examine her carefully: "Are you hurt? Are you scared? I'm late."

  She shook her head, and Xia Tian's eyes were slightly red. Seeing him, she truly felt safe for the first time. "Xiao San said that if he wasn't there, I could go find you, but I didn't know where to find you." The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt in her heart, and her mouth pouted as tears welled up in her eyes, "Where's Xiao San? Do you know where he is?"

  Heart slightly aching, Yuan Longxiang felt both pity and guilt, making things even more difficult.

  "What's wrong with Long Qiao? How dare these people cause trouble in the Ling Wang Fu?" Qing Ming asked coldly, shaking off Xia Tian's supporting hand.

  "Third Brother he..."

  Seeing him being evasive, Xia Tian urged, "What's wrong with him, tell me quickly!"

  Taking a deep breath, Yuan Longlin hesitated and said: "The palace rumor says that Third Brother stole the Emperor's jade seal, now Third Brother has been locked up in the Ministry of Justice prison."

  "This is a frame-up!" Qing Ming flung out his sleeve and said categorically.

  "I also don't believe that Third Brother would do such a thing. However, now the Emperor is nowhere to be seen, and Zhang De Shun guards the outside of Chang Mao Hall extremely tightly, I think even if we try to force our way in, we won't be able to get in."

  "What should we do now?" Xia Tian asked anxiously, biting her lip.

  Yuan Longlin puffed out his chest, his eyes filled with a determined gaze. "Don't worry, I will definitely rescue Third Brother. Let's go to General Huguo's mansion to see General Xia first. I have already sent someone to inform Yun Wuyi and Yuwen Qiming, they will also meet us at the general's mansion."

  "Xiu Niang, Zhou Song and they are still inside!"

  The young doll's face bore an uncharacteristic maturity, and Yuan Longlin hesitated for a moment before saying, "For now, the only way to save everyone in the Ling Wang Fu is to rescue Third Brother first. Time is of the essence; let's head to the General's Manor immediately."

  Let's take a look at something else first.