Chapter 47: Gift

In the moment of impending danger, sparks of memory burst forth, and Yu Lingxi recalled many details. 

For example, after the assassination attempt during the previous life’s Lantern Festival, Ning Yin had actually stayed indoors for several days.

“…That concealed weapon is poisoned. It’s truly rare for someone to survive such a severe injury,” someone remarked.

“Hidden illnesses linger and remain concealed, sooner or later collapsing like a great building. Who knows what the future holds,” murmured the imperial physicians in hushed tones as they passed by. Yu Lingxi leaned against the window, silently setting aside the scroll in her hands.

Shortly after, she saw Ning Yin stepping out with a cane, leisurely leading subordinates to confiscate property and annihilate a family.

He still exuded an air of elegance and composure, his pale and cold face showing no signs of fatigue or decay, as if nothing in this world could destroy or kill him. But the human body is vulnerable; where in this world is there an indestructible body?

Seeing the woman twirl the paper umbrella and secretly manipulate the mechanism, Yu Lingxi, driven by an unknown force, instinctively pushed Ning Yin aside.

Almost simultaneously, a dozen small concealed weapons, like pear blossoms, scattered and thudded into the ground where Ning Yin had stood before. Yu Lingxi held onto Ning Yin tightly, fearing that, like in her past life, he might get his arm scratched by these highly toxic hidden weapons.

A few drops of thick moisture fell on her neck, making her shiver.

Yu Lingxi instinctively touched her neck, and in the bright and lively candlelight, the crimson color on her fingertips stung her eyes. She suddenly looked up, staring at the thin line of blood flowing from Ning Yin’s nose, and her dilated pupils trembled slightly.

“How could this happen…”

Yu Lingxi couldn’t believe it, reaching out unconsciously to touch the tip of his nose.

She clearly blocked those poisonous needles; why was Ning Yin still bleeding?

Ning Yin grabbed her fingertip, pinching it in his palm.

“Don’t touch, it’s dirty.”

He calmly wiped away the bloodstain from his nose and then nonchalantly cleaned it on the nearby corpse. “Just now, this prince was wondering why the flames sprayed by the fire breather were blue-purple and had a pungent smoke. Now it’s clear; the Empress put poison in the fire breather’s drink.”

Following his gaze, Yu Lingxi immediately tensed her body.

The Empress, accompanied by an unfamiliar group of Feathered Guards, had arrived from somewhere. However, the blades of these Feathered Guards were not aimed at the assassin; instead, they were pressed against Ning Yin’s neck, controlling several ministers who tried to call for help.

The rest either belonged to the neutral faction, shivering in fear and keeping silent, or were secretly affiliated with the Empress.

“Well done, Prince Ning. Being cautious and cunning, this palace had to use some means, mixing a specially crafted poison into the fire breather’s drink.”

Now that she had control of the situation, Empress Feng no longer concealed anything, dragging her luxurious phoenix robe into the hall. “When this poison is dissolved in the wine, it cannot be detected, only when the smoke produced by the burning reveals its ability to paralyze the entire body and invade the internal organs.”

This was information Yu Lingxi had never known in her previous life.

In the end, the situation had spiraled out of control.

“Exquisite.”

Ning Yin applauded, “Even I, Prince, must admire the cleverness in administering this poison.”

This little lunatic could still manage to laugh! 

Uncertain of the danger posed by the poison, Yu Lingxi suppressed the panic in her heart and calmly said, “The harem should not interfere in politics. Please, Your Majesty, think twice and consider the well-being of the young prince.”

For the current situation, the only option was to buy as much time as possible for Ning Yin’s subordinates and the Forbidden Army under his brother’s command.

Empress Feng’s gaze fell on Yu Lingxi.

Still wearing a gentle expression, amidst the chaos of flashing blades in the hall, her ancient and calm eyes revealed a hint of eerie tranquility.

“You are here too, saving me the trouble of looking for you,” Empress Feng said, twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand. She pierced through Yu Lingxi’s thoughts, saying, “If you want to delay time, I advise you not to waste your efforts. Yu Huanchen’s collusion with external enemies has been exposed by Cui An, and he will be dealt with on the spot.”

Yu Lingxi clenched her fingers tightly.

Assassins infiltrated the lantern festival, and General Yu, responsible for guarding, would undoubtedly be implicated. He would even carry the accusation of ‘colluding with assassins.’

Empress Feng intended to eradicate the Yu family altogether, a perfect and malicious plan, even more meticulous and detailed than the grand feast of the previous Lantern Festival in her past life.

Affected by the poison, Ning Yin’s body was numb and weak, unable to support himself, leaning towards the side.

Yu Lingxi quickly moved closer to him, catching his falling body, and whispered, “How are you?”

Ning Yin looked at her, faint glimmers dancing in his pitch-black eyes. He seemed to want to raise his hand to touch her cheek, but halfway through, it lost strength and dropped.

Yu Lingxi hurriedly caught his falling hand, holding it tightly.

“If I were Lingxi, now would be the time to disassociate from this prince and surrender willingly,” Ning Yin chuckled softly.

“Shut up!” Yu Lingxi wished she could just shut his annoying mouth.

A Feathered Guard defector came in from outside the hall, closing the door. “Your Majesty, the Forbidden Army has been controlled by Commander Cui. Everything is under control.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingxi’s heart sank halfway.

“Deal with it cleanly.”

Empress Feng was straightforward; several royal guards immediately responded and took action.

On the other side, Yu Xinyi descended from the palace tower, colliding face to face with a youth in a red and white robe.

Ning Zizhuo had just slipped out of the lantern festival, carrying a beautiful tiger-shaped lantern. His dog-like eyes lit up, “Commander Yu! I was just looking for you. Look at this lantern…”

“No time!”

Yu Xinyi glanced at the chaos below the wall, was about to step over Ning Zizhuo, but suddenly stopped her steps.

Thinking of something, she turned back, scrutinizing Ning Zizhuo, “Can you go to Changyang Palace now?”

Ning Zizhuo nodded, “As the emperor’s nephew, of course, I can…”

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Xinyi had already dragged him away.

“Don’t make a sound, don’t ask why.”

Yu Xinyi pulled Ning Zizhuo, walking briskly, lowering her voice, “Take me to meet the Emperor, quickly!”

East Hall of Xuande Gate.

With a crisp sound, a blood-stained dagger was thrown at Yu Lingxi’s feet. Ning Yin’s gaze fell on the dagger, and a dark red reflection shimmered in his eyes. Memories from seven years ago emerged in his mind, like a nightmare that couldn’t be shaken off.

“Only one between you and your son can survive.”

In the endless darkness, a woman’s crisp voice came, “Kill your son, and this palace will let you live.”

“Do you recognize this dagger?” Empress Feng looked at Ning Yin.

She revealed a pitiful expression, as if savoring the struggling of a dying prey. “Seven years ago, between you and your son, only one could live. Li Fei did not hesitate to plunge the blade into your chest.”

Yu Lingxi suddenly raised her eyes, looking at Ning Yin in disbelief.

She remembered the story Ning Yin told her in the warehouse during her intoxication, about a big wolf catching a mother and son, and then throwing a dagger in front of them. They told the mother wolf that between her and her son, only one could live…

Yu Lingxi had asked Ning Yin about the ending of the story. At that time, after thinking for a long time, he had responded with a cold, mocking smile, “The mother wolf probably would stab the dagger into her own heart.”

He then asked, “In the story, all the mothers would do that, wouldn’t they?”

Thinking of the narrow old wound in Ning Yin’s chest, Yu Lingxi felt a sudden pang of pain.

Ning Yin was not a child from the “story.” 

He had always lived in hell.

“Here’s a chance for you to redeem yourself.”

Empress Feng’s voice interrupted Yu Lingxi’s thoughts, and she repeated her cruel proposal, “Kill Prince Ning, and I will spare your life.”

Yu Lingxi just stared at Ning Yin, her eyes reddened.

Empress Feng not only wanted to kill Ning Yin but also in the most heart-wrenching way. She was savoring the cruelty of the final moments of the slaughter!

Yu Lingxi’s breathing became intense. Whether it was rushing into the hall to deliver the message to Ning Yin or being coerced with a knife by the rebels, she had never been as mentally chaotic as she was at this moment.

Ning Yin also looked at her, his eyes calm as if frozen black ice.

Yu Lingxi didn’t know how much pain and despair the young boy from seven years ago must have endured to become the calm and almost cruel Ning Yin before her now.

Trembling, Yu Lingxi reached out, gripping the dagger.

Ning Yin remained lazy, half-leaning, and gently smiled at her.

“If I die, Lingxi will be free.”

Ning Yin chuckled softly, “If this knife cannot kill me, Lingxi will be bound to me for eternity, life after life, forever tethered to this prince.”

A lunatic!

This little lunatic!

Yu Lingxi tightened her grip on the dagger, and her gaze gradually became determined. Suddenly, she raised her hand, exerted all her strength without hesitation, and fiercely stabbed towards the Feathered Guard holding a knife to Ning Yin’s neck.

—This was her answer.

The sharp dagger cut through the cold wind by her ears. Ning Yin, looking at the delicate yet brave girl in front of him, was momentarily bewildered.

Yu Lingxi was the most unexpected surprise in this unfolding drama.

She chose him.

This time, he was not abandoned.

Then, with a clang. The Feathered Guard reacted, shocked, quickly raising his knife to knock the dagger out of her hand.

Now!

Yu Lingxi, clutching her wrist, staggered a step and shouted, “Ning Yin! How much longer do you want to act!”

The thrown dagger accurately fell back into Ning Yin’s hand. He then swung it backhand, and two approaching Feathered Guards suddenly widened their eyes. A thin line of blood appeared on their throats, and they collapsed to the ground like puppets with cut strings.

Almost simultaneously, several feathered arrows flew through the air from outside Xuande Gate. The ropes connecting the lantern tower to Xuande Gate snapped, and hundreds of lanterns scattered like falling stars, violently crashing into the palace wall.

The lantern tower wavered, sparks and wood chips scattered like fireflies, attracting the attention of the common people and the guards stationed at the gate.

The flickering flames illuminated the hall with a display of blades and blood. People gasped, and Cui An’s subordinates, under the attack of Chen Feng and Zhaji, rushed onto the stage. Swords clanged from two sides.

Seizing this opportunity, Yu Huanchen drew his sword and charged into the fray, shouting, “Assassins! Follow me to rescue His Highness!”

Realizing that the situation was about to be exposed, Empress Feng’s hand twirled her Buddhist beads. If the people sent by Ning Yin were not stopped, it must be due to an accident.

Seeing blood seeping from Ning Yin’s nose again, Empress Feng no longer lingered in the battle. Escorted by the eunuchs, she retreated from the side door on the west.

Seeing that the people arriving to rescue Ning Yin had finally arrived, Yu Lingxi felt the tension in her chest finally loosen. She collapsed on the ground as if drained of strength. Ning Yin used one hand to support her waist, his gaze stopping on her pale face with traces of tears, his brows furrowed.

“Kill them all.”

Ning Yin cleaned his fingers before bending down to pick up Yu Lingxi’s knees, holding her like a bride. Stepping on the clean floor tiles, he walked towards the exit.

Yu Lingxi buried her face tightly in his embrace, her fingertips trembling from the cold. Feeling her fear, Ning Yin tightened his grip.

He tightened his arms around her, kissed the top of her head, and softly said, “It’s okay, Sui Sui.” He paid no attention to the blossoming patches of blood behind them.

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