At this moment, Xiao Minghuang's eyes were tightly shut, her face deathly pale and her breath faint. Her entire body lay limp in Ye Ruoshui's arms, devoid of the slightest vitality, looking utterly spent and powerless.
Holding Xiao Minghuang close, Ye Ruoshui was frantic with worry, her whole body trembling. Her hands gently stroked Xiao Minghuang's blood-stained cheeks as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
"Ninth Highness..."
Lin Zhengquan stepped forward, guilt written across his face as he said sorrowfully:
"If not for Beiyang City, how could Ninth Highness have suffered such grievous injuries..."
Wang Jin circulated his spiritual power, continuously repairing Xiao Minghuang's damaged body as he reminded her:
"Miss Ye, do not grieve. Treating Ninth Highness's injuries is what matters most!"
Lin Wanqiu came rushing over. Just now, she had been fighting a ferocious beast in the Qi Refining Realm. When she saw Xiao Minghuang injured, she lost focus for an instant, allowing the beast to seize an opening and strike her shoulder. A large chunk of flesh and bone had been torn away, and blood was now gushing from the wound.
Her heart pounded wildly. Enduring the searing pain, she stepped forward and shouted:
"Ye Ruoshui, stop standing there like a fool! Hurry and treat Ninth Highness!"
The sharp cry jolted Ye Ruoshui awake. Coming back to her senses, she immediately pulled out a large handful of pills from her storage pouch and kept stuffing them into Xiao Minghuang's mouth.
The instant the pills entered Xiao Minghuang's mouth, they melted into medicinal power.
After several dozen pills had been fed to her, dense medicinal power filled Xiao Minghuang's body, gradually stabilizing her breath. Only then did everyone let out a sigh of relief.
At this moment.
Ye Ruoshui noticed blood still pouring from Lin Wanqiu's shoulder. She hurriedly took out another box of pills and handed it over.
"Sister Lin, your injury is so serious. Hurry and take the medicine!"
"...Thank you, Ruoshui."
Lin Wanqiu's face was pale and her voice weak. She sat cross-legged on the ground, swallowed the pills, and began circulating her power to heal herself.
Though her injuries looked terrifying, they were far less severe than Xiao Minghuang's. After only a few breaths of recuperation, much of the color had returned to her face.
After bandaging her wound, Lin Wanqiu walked over to Xiao Minghuang. She glanced at the beardless old man crouching nearby, hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"May I ask who you are, Senior?"
As Xiao Minghuang's breath gradually stabilized, Wang Jin also sighed in relief and replied:
"This old servant is surnamed Wang. I followed the Ninth Princess here from the imperial capital."
After accompanying them all this way, he had naturally seen everything clearly.
The eldest daughter of the Lin family in Beiyang City had clearly earned the Ninth Princess's approval. Nine times out of ten, she would become the mistress of the Princess Mansion in the future.
He knew perfectly well that, with the Ninth Princess's talent, winning the position of Crown Prince was as certain as a nail driven into a board.
Though she had suffered a villain's ambush this time, her foundation had not been harmed, and it would not affect her future path of cultivation.
Therefore, the Lin family of Beiyang City would surely soar straight into the heavens and rise step by step through the clouds.
At this thought.
Wang Jin became even more humble and courteous, without the slightest airs of a Divine Sea Realm sixth-level expert.
Hearing a Divine Sea Realm expert refer to himself as an old servant, Lin Wanqiu failed to react for a moment. After standing stunned for a while, she quickly waved her hands and declined:
"Eunuch Wang, you flatter this humble woman too greatly."
At her words, Wang Jin bowed slightly and said respectfully:
"If Miss Lin has any orders, simply give the word."
Xiao Minghuang was badly injured and unconscious.
Ye Ruoshui was only a girl of twelve or thirteen.
To her, Xiao Minghuang was her sky.
But now, that sky had collapsed.
All her attention was fixed entirely on Xiao Minghuang.
She carefully bandaged Xiao Minghuang's wounds and cleaned away the blood.
As for the conversation between Lin Wanqiu and Wang Jin, she did not react at all.
Ye Ruoshui took excellent care of Xiao Minghuang. Her chaotic breath continued to steady and recover rapidly. The tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a faint flush returned to her pale face.
The stone weighing on Lin Wanqiu's heart eased somewhat. She turned to Wang Jin and said:
"Eunuch Wang, do you have any thoughts on the culprit behind this assassination attempt on Ninth Highness?"
At those words, Wang Jin inwardly approved.
He had followed Xiao Minghuang all the way and knew that the two girls by the Ninth Princess's side were both deeply favored by her.
Yet compared to the two, Lin Wanqiu was clearly of higher standing and received greater regard—not merely because she was the eldest daughter of Beiyang City's Lin family.
This composure in the face of danger, this calm and unruffled bearing, was not something that little maid could compare with.
Only a woman with such breadth of heart was worthy of becoming the mother of a nation.
Of course, that was only his view. As for how the Ninth Princess herself regarded the two girls, he dared not speculate.
But before that, he still needed to probe a little further.
After all, apart from secretly protecting the Ninth Princess, he had another mission in following her to Beiyang City this time.
He was to observe the character of the Beiyang City Lord's daughter and determine whether she was a worthy match for the Ninth Princess.
Wang Jin slowly said:
"This... this old servant has lived deep within the palace for many years and knows little of worldly affairs. What insight could I possibly have?"
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. After pondering for a moment, she seemed to think of something. The corners of her lips rose faintly, a glimmer appearing in her eyes as she asked with a soft laugh:
"In that case, could Eunuch Wang tell me about the situation at court? Then I may make some plans for Ninth Highness as well."
At that, a smile appeared on Wang Jin's aged face. He nodded and said:
"This old servant happens to have a document here that records quite a few interesting matters from the court. Please have a look, Miss Lin."
As he spoke, Wang Jin took a booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Wanqiu.
Taking the document, Lin Wanqiu read ten lines at a glance, her gaze sharp as lightning as it swept rapidly across the pages. Within a few breaths, she had grasped seven or eight parts out of ten of the capital's situation.
After reading the document, Lin Wanqiu's eyes shifted as she swiftly analyzed the situation in the capital.
"At the imperial selection, all nine imperial heirs may be established as Crown Prince."
"Therefore, the other eight princes could all be the masterminds behind Ninth Highness's assassination!"
After thinking it over and over, Lin Wanqiu still found no answer. Looking around, she spotted the giant elephant's corpse, massive as a mountain.
That corpse immediately reminded her of many things.
"This Beast Tide came too suddenly and too swiftly. It is highly unusual. This giant elephant was the strongest ferocious beast in the Beast Tide. Could clues be hidden within its corpse?"
Lin Wanqiu pondered inwardly. And not only that—the mysterious assassin had also hidden inside the giant elephant and launched a sneak attack on Xiao Minghuang.
With that thought, she immediately took action. Arriving beside the giant elephant, she summoned the guards and had them dissect it together.
The moment they cut open the elephant's chest and abdomen, they discovered something hidden within. After searching briefly, they found a pitch-black token.
Two large characters were inscribed upon it:
Beast Taming.
Setting a Trap for the Thief
The token seemed to be cast from some rare metal. It felt smooth and warm in the hand, entirely black, with two gilded characters inscribed upon it.
Beast Taming.
Wang Jin stepped forward, glanced at the token, and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:
"This should be the Beast Taming Token of the Beast Taming Sect. When implanted into a ferocious beast's body, it can control the beast's mind for a short time. That assassin likely relied on the Beast Taming Token to command the Silver Light Giant Elephant, trigger the Beast Tide, and then assassinate Ninth Highness once the Beast Tide was over."
Hearing Wang Jin's analysis, Lin Wanqiu's eyes darkened as she fell into thought.
"Then does that mean the Beast Taming Sect wanted to assassinate Ninth Highness?"
Wang Jin frowned at her question.
"The Beast Taming Sect lies extremely far from Great Xia. We have had no dealings with them in ordinary times, much less any enmity. Why would they seek to harm Ninth Highness?"
Though he did not say it outright, the meaning beneath his words was clear: this assassination must have been ordered by one of the princes in the capital.
There was only one person with the greatest suspicion—and the greatest ability to carry this out.
The Second Prince.
Other than him, none of the princes could command a dignified Divine Sea Realm martial artist to lower himself to assassinating a junior.
Lin Wanqiu clearly understood this as well. But the mysterious Divine Sea Realm martial artist had already been slapped to death, leaving neither corpse nor bones behind. It was too late to gather evidence.
Wang Jin understood it just as clearly. When the assassin had suddenly appeared, he had panicked and struck out fiercely with all his strength, holding nothing back. In the moment, he had actually forgotten to capture the assassin alive.
He bowed slightly and said apologetically:
"This old servant panicked and accidentally killed that assassin. Please punish me, Miss Lin!"
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu repeatedly waved her hands and said gently:
"Eunuch Wang, do not blame yourself. The assassin's attack came too suddenly. Protecting Ninth Highness was naturally the first priority. Eunuch Wang was not wrong to kill the assassin."
Lin Wanqiu knew that Wang Jin's extreme courtesy toward her was entirely due to Xiao Minghuang's status.
She could not grow arrogant from being favored and slight Wang Jin. That would be far too discourteous and would damage Xiao Minghuang's reputation.
Seeing that Lin Wanqiu did not blame him, a smile appeared on Wang Jin's wrinkled face as he thought to himself:
The daughter of Beiyang City possesses both wisdom and courage, remains calm in danger, and is blessed with outstanding beauty. She is worthy to be Ninth Highness's match!
Wang Jin reached his conclusion inwardly.
At this moment.
After a period of recovery, Xiao Minghuang's body gradually improved, and she finally stirred awake.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Ye Ruoshui's tear-streaked little face. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face covered with tear tracks. She looked as though she had just suffered a grave illness, utterly haggard.
Ye Ruoshui had been watching Xiao Minghuang's every movement. The instant she saw her Ninth Highness open her eyes, she cried out in delight:
"Ninth Highness, you're awake..."
Before her words could fully leave her mouth, Xiao Minghuang covered it with her hand.
Xiao Minghuang's voice was weak and low, utterly lacking in strength.
"Ruoshui, do not tell anyone that I've awakened. Call Wanqiu over."
Seeing Xiao Minghuang awake, Ye Ruoshui was filled with joy and obediently nodded.
She did not make a fuss again, instead going to call Lin Wanqiu over.
A few breaths later.
Lin Wanqiu came to Xiao Minghuang's side. Seeing her peerlessly beautiful face pale and haggard, without the slightest trace of color, Lin Wanqiu's heart suddenly twisted.
She thought she could remain rational and not be swayed by emotion, but in truth, she could not do it.
If she could, she truly wanted to drag out that damned mastermind right now and slice him into a thousand pieces!
Lin Wanqiu slowly bent down, gathered Xiao Minghuang into her arms, and asked gently:
"Is Ninth Highness feeling any better?"
Seeing Lin Wanqiu's expression, Xiao Minghuang knew that although she was heartbroken and furious, she remained calm and rational. A weight lifted from her heart.
She knew Ye Ruoshui possessed the heart of an innocent child, untouched by dust. The filth hidden on the dark side of sunlight could not be entrusted to her.
Lin Wanqiu was different. She had been born with an Exquisite Heart; her thoughts were clear and penetrating, her considerations mature. She could be trusted to scheme alongside her.
"Wanqiu, has the assassin been captured?"
Just now, Xiao Minghuang had indeed been severely wounded by that strike.
For one thing, the attack had come far too quickly to evade.
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