Let's Squander A Billion First!-Chapter 1653: Lord Qiansui (5)
Chuzheng happened to hear what Princess Changhuan said.
She looked over at Princess Changhuan, the young girl pouting with displeasure written all over her face.
Zhu Dongfeng had rarely shown up recently, probably afraid of encountering more ’supernatural’ incidents. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
A few monks were carrying something heavy and large over, and Princess Changhuan voluntarily gave way.
At that moment, a cold flash appeared beside them.
"Ah!"
A Palace Maid first caught sight of the cold flash and, probably as an instinctive reaction, cried out.
Over there, a plainly dressed woman, holding a dagger, lunged at Princess Changhuan.
The woman jumped down from the nearby steps and was now very close to Princess Changhuan.
"Princess, be careful!"
The person closest to Princess Changhuan pushed her aside.
The woman’s first attack missed.
"Catch the assassin!!"
"Someone, catch the assassin!"
"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Princess!"
Voices rose simultaneously, and the woman viciously kicked away the person in her way, grabbing Princess Changhuan’s arm.
Princess Changhuan had likely learned some martial arts; when caught by the assassin, she immediately kicked at the opponent.
Unfortunately, her meager skills were no match for the assassin.
Rip——
The sharp dagger tore through the fabric on Princess Changhuan’s arm, and blood instantly dyed her clothes red.
Princess Changhuan staggered and fell backward down the steps.
"Princess——"
She felt she would be disfigured if she fell like that.
She didn’t want to be disfigured!!!
Princess Changhuan fearfully closed her eyes.
However, the expected pain didn’t come; she was caught by someone...
Princess Changhuan opened her eyes to see an extremely good-looking face, whose owner was now looking at her with a calm expression, supporting her waist with one hand.
If this were a man, it would definitely be a classic hero-rescues-the-damsel moment.
"Have you seen enough?"
Princess Changhuan blinked, her pale face looking very pitiful.
Chuzheng spoke coldly, "If you’ve seen enough, stand properly. My clothes are dirty now."
Princess Changhuan: "!!!"
Princess Changhuan struggled to stand firm. Her arm, which had been cut, was now bleeding.
The girl who saved her had also been smeared with blood.
Glancing at the bloodstains on her clothes, Chuzheng felt annoyed. She needed to change...what a bother.
The assassin was already charging again.
The result of Chuzheng’s bad mood was——
The assassin was beaten to the ground.
Chuzheng looked down at the assassin, recognizing the face.
It seemed to be the young woman who had initially sat with her back to them during the meal that day.
She had left early, and Chuzheng had caught a glimpse of her at that time.
Despite the disguise, Chuzheng felt it was the same person.
At this moment, the assassin was glaring at Chuzheng, seemingly annoyed she interfered.
The people rushing over interrupted the stare-down between Chuzheng and the assassin.
"Princess, are you alright?"
"You’re bleeding."
"Quick, call the Imperial Physician."
"Where’s Lord Zhu!"
The scene was chaotic, and Princess Changhuan, surrounded by people and feeling dazed, looked around for the person who had just been there, but they were nowhere to be found.
-
When Princess Changhuan was injured, Zhu Dongfeng was nowhere to be seen, ultimately leading to him being counted as derelict in his duties.
Indeed, the very next day, people from the Imperial Court hurried over.
Chuzheng watched from a distance as a large group of people entered from outside the temple.
The leading man was tall, his clothes luxurious, wearing a cloak that fluttered as he walked, with a commanding presence.
Jin Zhi stood next to Chuzheng, volunteering, "That is Yin Shen, the most powerful eunuch of the Xia Dynasty now."
"Eunuch?" Chuzheng raised an eyebrow.
Eunuchs were generally either rotund or painfully thin; how could this man have such a good physique?
He didn’t look like a eunuch at all, more like a Prince.
Jin Zhi said, "Eunuchs are in power in the Xia Dynasty now; the Emperor is just a puppet."
Chuzheng had vaguely heard about it but hadn’t paid much attention as it didn’t concern her.
The Xia Dynasty’s Emperor was incompetent, seldom attending court.
At first, the eunuchs’ power wasn’t that significant, but the Emperor trusted Yin Shen by his side.
Gradually, the power of the eunuchs grew larger.
Eventually, Yin Shen seized control, sidelining the Emperor as a puppet and becoming the head eunuch of the court.
Yin Shen was devious, capricious, and cruel—truly a notorious villain.
Jin Zhi: "Miss, do you know what people outside call him?"
Chuzheng glanced at the group heading toward Princess Changhuan’s residence, asking disinterestedly, "What do they call him?"
Jin Zhi: "Lord of a Thousand Years."
The Emperor is the ’Lord of Ten Thousand Years’; a eunuch being called ’Lord of a Thousand Years’ shows his ambition.
"Do you think Zhu Dongfeng will be punished?" Chuzheng changed the topic directly.
"Miss, can I ask...do you have a grudge against Lord Zhu?" Why always pick on him?
"No." Not me, the original character does.
I’m just an unfeeling executor.
It’s so hard for me.
[...] I’m just here to see the drama, Miss.
"Why do you keep targeting him if not?" Jin Zhi was curious.
"..."
I’m not, I didn’t, don’t say that!
Probably even she didn’t believe her own words, so Chuzheng replayed them internally and remained silent.
Without getting a response, Jin Zhi automatically answered Chuzheng’s earlier question: "Zhu Dongfeng was here to protect Princess Changhuan. Now that she’s hurt, he will definitely be held accountable."
Especially since the head eunuch had arrived.
Who knows what schemes this Lord of a Thousand Years might be planning?
What if he takes this chance to suppress Zhu Dongfeng?
-
At Princess Changhuan’s residence.
The Palace Attendants stood outside, heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.
If the Princess’s injury wasn’t handled well, they, as her servants, would be implicated.
Inside, the Imperial Physician was changing Princess Changhuan’s bandages.
Zhu Dongfeng stood outside, looking haggard, dark circles under his eyes, clearly sleep-deprived.
He paced back and forth, occasionally placing his hands in front or behind him, showing his anxiety.
"Lord of a Thousand Years has arrived——"
Zhu Dongfeng froze, knowing someone had reported back to the palace.
But he didn’t expect Yin Shen to personally come.
Thinking of that man, Zhu Dongfeng’s heart sank again.
So many inexplicable events had been happening recently, and now Princess Changhuan was hurt, the key being he wasn’t present at the time, leaving him completely open to being accused of negligence.
Zhu Dongfeng dared not think further, hurriedly going out to greet him.
A young and handsome man, accompanied by others, entered from outside, his cloak fluttering to reveal exquisite attire beneath.
The palace eunuch’s clothes were nothing like this; the fabric alone nearly matched a Prince’s specifications.
"Lord of a Thousand Years." Zhu Dongfeng addressed him, cupping his hands.
As a Minister, Zhu Dongfeng needn’t bow like this, but given the Lord’s stature, there was no other choice.
