Eternal Night - Chapter 141
An Boping quickly calmed down and laughed heartily, "So Young Master Li likes to eat meat."
"Don't you think I've eaten a bit too much, young master?"
"Even if I want to eat the golden dragonfish from Sunset Lake, I will immediately order people to catch them."
Yongye gave an "oh," picked up the wine cup, and then put it down again. Seeing An Boping drink without hesitation, a strange expression appeared in Yongye's eyes, and he slowly said, "The wine is poisoned, doesn't the young master know?"
An Boping's hand trembled, and he silently put the food down. He had lost his appetite for the delicious dish.
“I did not disguise myself, and the young master was not surprised, which means he must have known who I was all along. I was away for many days before returning, and the young master was not surprised either, which means he knew I would come back. But the young master knew that the wine was poisoned, yet he still wanted to drink with me. What is going on here?”
An Boping stared at her blankly, then slowly rose from his seat and knelt down in front of her.
The head of an incredibly wealthy family, who was so smug just half a month ago able to threaten her with moon spirits and roses to make her submit, actually knelt down before her like this.
Yongye nearly jumped up. She restrained herself, remaining seated and looking at An Boping with a mocking expression. Things had taken a completely unexpected turn. She had assumed that even if she returned, An Boping could still use the Moon Soul and the Rose to blackmail her.
"Princess! Please spare the An family," An Boping said.
Yongye looked around. "Where's the princess?" he asked, puzzled.
An Boping's face was ashen, as if he had been crying; his complexion was as white as paper, and a thin line of blood rose in his eyes. He had never been so humble since he could remember. He was the eldest son of the An family, raised in luxury from childhood, no less than royalty. At seven years old, he could calculate on an abacus more skillfully than the steward who had worked for the An family for twenty years. Under his care, the An family's annual earnings could fill a boat.
What can't money buy? An Boping didn't know. But he did know that even if he spent every last ounce of silver in the An family, he still couldn't buy peace.
Who is she? The daughter of Prince Duan, whose power and influence are felt throughout the land. The princess who grew up with Emperor Youqing of Anguo. The future wife of the Crown Prince of Qi. An Boping could only bow his head.
A heavy sorrow welled up in his heart. Why did he agree to let her paint? Why did he threaten her with the person she cared about? Kneeling before Yongye, he was as humble as a servant, and even the jade Pixiu worth 100,000 taels of silver hanging at his waist could not make him feel noble.
Yongye scrutinized him, then casually picked up another duck leg and started gnawing on it. With her mouth full of meat, she murmured, "Am I dreaming?"
A gust of wind swept by, and another person appeared beside An Boping—it was Uncle Ping. He kowtowed heavily to Yongye: "It was this old servant who struck the princess and took it upon himself to try to take her life. It has nothing to do with the eldest young master. Please, princess, spare the An family."
As he spoke, he struck Tianling with his palm.
Yongye was very confident in her technique. Although Uncle Ping's internal strength was superb, she was equally swift. Uncle Ping slapped the duck leg, getting his hands covered in oil. Yongye's arm went numb, and she said with a wry smile, "Actually, Uncle Ping could kill me with one palm right now. Your internal strength is too amazing."
"Why won't the princess let this old servant commit suicide?! A scholar can be killed but not humiliated!" Uncle Ping opened his eyes wide, his gaze once again like lightning piercing the night sky, sharp and irresistible.
Yongye pondered for a moment and said, "It's not that I don't want to kill you, but my martial arts are clearly inferior to yours, so I can't kill you. Besides, I don't understand... You should know that I was originally under your control, and suddenly the situation has changed. No one can adapt to this. Can the eldest young master stand up and speak?"
An Boping laughed bitterly, "You are the Crown Princess, and you want to destroy the An family. How can you say you are controlled by others? What a joke! You dare to come alone. How do you know what ambushes are waiting outside?"
Yongye asked curiously, "Young Master, did you not know my identity when you invited me here?"
An Boping's face suddenly lit up with excitement, and his hands clenched into fists: "Starting a business is difficult, but maintaining it is even more difficult. An Boping was bewitched and threatened the princess, and Uncle Ping even wanted to take the princess's life. It's all Boping's fault. I will pay with my life. Can the princess spare the An family?"
Confused by his words, Yongye tentatively asked, "And who is instructing the eldest young master?"
An Boping gritted his teeth and refused to speak.
Yongye sighed and said, "I never intended to destroy the An family. Did you think I came back to confront you or show my displeasure?"
A hint of disdain flashed in An Boping's eyes, while Yongye was even more puzzled. "Didn't your friend surnamed You tell you that I have another identity? I originally came from the Valley of Wandering, and my name is Xinghun!"
An Boping trembled, closed his eyes, and Uncle Ping sighed and called out, "Young Master."
"Alright, I will not pursue this matter any further. May the eldest young master stand up and speak?" What unspeakable secret is making this person in charge of the An family so uncomfortable? Yongye's curiosity was piqued once again.
As she reached out to help An Boping, a cloud of purple smoke drifted in from the window. Yongye had seen this smoke before; it was this smoke that had taken Sunlight's life when she was tracking him.
She reacted incredibly quickly, reaching out to grab An Guoping and leaping out the door.
Uncle Ping slapped the smoke and jumped out as well.
The sound of strings outside the window was as dense as rain, as if the speaker was determined to kill all three of them.
Yongye protected An Boping, fearing he would be silenced, and Uncle Ping felt the same way. However, the rain of arrows grew denser and denser, and countless crossbowmen arrived from outside.
At that moment, a lightning-fast sword light flashed from where the arrow had been shot, tearing apart the net woven by the enemy's crossbow bolts.
A sharp whistle rang out, and the crossbowmen vanished in an instant. They came like lightning and retreated like the wind, their departure swift and clean.
Feng Yangxi emerged from the darkness, his eyes brighter than the stars. He smiled at Yongye, as if to tell her that he was truly by her side.
Yongye stared blankly; he didn't come over, and she didn't go over either. Their eyes met briefly before looking away.
"Thank you, Princess!"
Yongye turned his head and smiled: "Young Master, may I ask..."
An Boping's face turned ashen. He closed his eyes, and two lines of clear tears streamed down his face: "It's my third brother."
The third young master of the An family? Yongye raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
He was about to speak when he suddenly saw Uncle Ping's face turn bright red, then pale. Startled, he frantically cried out, "Uncle Ping!"
Uncle Ping's throat tightened. He walked at the back, dispersing the purple mist but inhaling deeply, letting out a powerful roar as blood spurted from his mouth. Feng Yangxi rushed over, pressing his palm against Uncle Ping's back and channeling his inner energy into him. Uncle Ping could no longer speak, staring blankly at him. Feng Yangxi sighed and nodded, saying, "I guarantee the princess won't pursue the eldest son's responsibility. As long as it has nothing to do with the An family, I will protect the An family."
Uncle Ping made a sound in his throat, and Yongye sighed and nodded. His body suddenly convulsed, and he died.
A master of internal energy cultivation died so easily? Yongye found it hard to believe.
"Are you alright?" Feng Yangxi was startled by Uncle Ping and took Yongye's hand to check her pulse.
An Boping looked astonished, as if he had seen something strange.
"I'm still the Crown Princess in An Boping's eyes," Yongye said, blushing as she pulled her hand away. "It's nothing."