Chapter 291: The Death of Yan Xin and Prince Ha Chi

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Seeing them walk away, Yan Xin let out a sigh of relief.

With all the strength she could muster, she tried to get up. Just as she was about to move, she heard footsteps. Seeing the person approaching, Yan Xin’s eyes filled with a mix of joy and surprise. However, an arrow shot directly at her. Staring at the person in front of her, her eyes reflected confusion and a touch of sorrow.

“Your Highness, Prince Ha Chi should be nearby too. With only Yan Xin, the emperor won’t harm Jiang Peihuan. But if Prince Ha Chi is also killed, even if His Majesty wishes to keep the peace, the ministers won’t allow it,” Lin Mengyao calmly remarked.

Xiao Junhao, holding a bow and arrow, nodded in agreement after hearing her words, “You’re right.”

He then turned to Pei Wu, “Take a few men and go after Ha Chi. Remember, clean up properly.”

“Yes.”

Following Xiao Junhao’s order, Pei Wu left immediately with a few men. Xiao Junhao stood still, not sparing a glance at Yan Xin who lay dead on the ground. Instead, his gaze followed the direction Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye had taken. His eyes held a complex emotion.

Jian Peihuan was completely unaware of these things.

Unaware of these events, Jiang Peihuan helped Xiao Nanye tend to his wound after they left. His flawless face bore a distinct scar. Only now, as she cleaned the wound, did Jiang Peihuan realize its depth.

Fortunately, since they came for hunting, Jiang Peihuan had brought along a medicine for wounds. Preparing to apply it, she warned Xiao Nanye, “This might sting a bit. Bear with it.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Peihuan carefully treated Xiao Nanye’s injury. By the time she was done, Jiang Changbai returned with Jiang Sijin, and behind them, they dragged a white tiger.

“Elder sister, look! 1 shot this white tiger. I… Brother-in-law, you’re hurt?”

While talking to Jiang Peihuan, Jiang Sijin noticed Xiao Nanye’s facial injury. Seeing her concern, Xiao Nanye gently smiled, “It’s nothing. Just a small wound.”

“It’s getting late, let’s go back.”

Jiang Peihuan didn’t say much to Jiang Sijin and directly spoke out.

Upon hearing this, no one objected.

After finding Jiang Ruyun and Cao Jun, the group headed straight into the city.

By the time they returned to the General’s mansion, the sky was already dark.

Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan went straight back to plum garden.

Because Xiao Nanye had a wound on his face, the two did not leave plum garden after they returned.

That night, after treating the man’s wound, they both lay down on the bed.

The next morning, Jiang Peihuan was awakened by a knock on the door.

When she opened her eyes, Xiao Nanye was no longer in bed.

“Queen, someone from the palace is here.”

Jiang Peihuan, who was still slightly groggy, instantly became alert upon hearing this.

“Do you know what’s going on?”

She asked softly, looking at Yue Er, who was combing her hair.

In response to Jiang Peihuan’s question, Yue Er shook her head, “I’m not sure, someone from the palace said they’ve come to summon you.”

When Jiang Peihuan and Yue Er went out, they saw it was Wang Kun.

Upon seeing him, Jiang Peihuan nodded slightly.

“Where’s King Cheng?”

“His Highness was sent by the Emperor to handle some matters. His Highness left the mansion very early.”

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes flickered, realizing that Xiao Nanye had been deliberately sent away by Emperor Qi Ming.

All the Jiang family members had also arrived. Seeing the worry in their eyes, Jiang Peihuan reassured them, “Father, mother, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

Without an official summons, the Jiang family couldn’t enter the palace, so they could only watch Jiang Peihuan board the carriage.

Throughout the journey, not a single word was spoken between them. However, when they reached the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, Jiang Peihuan heard a faint voice whispering into her ear, “Be careful, Queen Cheng. Prince Ha Chi and Miss Yan’s are dead.”

The words were spoken by Wang Kun. When Jiang Peihuan looked up at him, his face showed no signs of emotion.

Despite hearing the words, Jiang Peihuan acted as if she hadn’t heard anything, yet her eyes were filled with complexity.

Yan Xin had died. Even though Yan Xin had been shot in the heart by Jiang Changbai, she had martial arts training, so she wouldn’t have died so easily.

As for Prince Ha Chi, he had just left the previous day.

Lost in thought, Jiang Peihuan arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

“Your Majesty, my royal brother came to the capital to seek a marriage. Yet, he was killed by Queen Cheng. You must provide an explanation to our grassland tribes,” the voice of Zhuo Ma echoed as soon as Jiang Peihuan entered the inner hall.

As Zhuo Ma spoke, she shot Jiang Peihuan a dark and resentful look.

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan frowned but did not respond. Approaching the emperor, she bowed and greeted, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Jiang Peihuan, you have some nerve. For your selfish desires, you dare to kill a minister’s family member and a prince of the grassland tribe,” Emperor Qi Ming’s cold voice rang out.

Upon hearing his accusation, Jiang Peihuan looked up directly into the eyes of Emperor Qi Ming, who was seated on the dragon throne, and softly responded, “Your Majesty, from where do these words originate?”

As she spoke, her eyes were filled with bewilderment.

Seeing her expression, the coldness in Emperor Qi Ming’s eyes deepened. “Miss Yan and Prince Ha Chi, weren’t they killed by you?”

“I doesn’t understand what Your Majesty means,” she replied.

“Queen Cheng, stop pretending in front of His Majesty. Yesterday, you went hunting in the south mountain with the Jiang family. Coincidentally, my royal brother and Miss Yan were also there. After your family left, they were found dead. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? I’ve also heard that you had a grudge with Miss Yan.”

Before Emperor Qi Ming could respond, Zhuo Ma impatiently interjected.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peihuan turned to face Zhuo Ma and calmly asked, “Princess Zhuo Ma, you keep insisting I killed them. Do you have any proof?”

“Of course.”

Moments later, a young eunuch entered the inner hall holding several long arrows. Jiang Peihuan recognized them; they were unique to the Jiang family.

In the Qi Kingdom, every military family had their unique markings on their arrows. The Jiang family’s arrows bore their family’s emblem. The arrows presented by the eunuch clearly had the Jiang family’s emblem.

“Queen Cheng, do you recognize these arrows?” Emperor Qi Ming inquired.

Upon hearing him, Jiang Peihuan nodded and replied, “Yes, these arrows belong to the Jiang family..”