Ojos encantadores

Capítulo 34

She snapped her fingers to indicate that he had answered correctly.

“You… should understand that right now, at this moment, you absolutely must not provoke the Third Prince in any way.” Fu Yaofeng’s heart skipped a beat.

“Brother Fu, I still know how to write the word ‘stupid’. To provoke him at this time is almost like sending yourself to your death!”

"That is..."

Seeing her focused expression as she waited for his answer with a strange look, Fu Yaofeng slammed his hand on the table, startling the person at the opposite table!

"Stop talking, I will not kill the Third Prince for you!" he said resolutely.

"Brother Fu, if you could kill the Third Prince, why did I suffer all this last year?" We wouldn't be in this dilemma now.

Stop beating around the bush and just say it!

"A few days ago, an assassin broke into the Three Emperors' Mansion."

“That’s right. I heard that some of the assassins escaped, but the Third Prince’s guests said that all the assassins have been poisoned, and given Feng Yan’s swordsmanship, they probably won’t survive.” Fu Yaofeng had heard about this. “Judging from the fact that we haven’t found anyone yet, or if they’ve only found corpses, they were either disposed of or rescued.” Based on his years of experience in the martial world, he deduced.

Before he could finish speaking, the wine bowl in his hand suddenly fell heavily to the ground, shattering into pieces!

"You—don't tell me it's you—"

"Yes! That's right!" She nodded, admitting it directly.

"You assassinated the Third Prince—" He grabbed her wrist in horror, examining her pulse closely, muttering to himself.

"The remaining accomplices who escaped were not only wounded by swords, but also poisoned! You didn't mess with them enough last year, now your master is going to cry his eyes out!"

"I didn't assassinate him!" she said, turning her hand back.

"Your friend did it—you still hired someone to do it!"

"I was just trying to save people." She drank another glass of wine to ease his tension.

"I rescued the remaining members of the gang who escaped."

Why did you save the assassin who tried to kill the Third Prince?

"Even if you can't act on behalf of Heaven, you should still stand up for what's right when you see injustice."

"Where is that assassin now—" Fu Yaofeng almost roared at the guy in front of him. What sins had he committed to have befriended this "brother"!

“He’s gone!” Su Shaochu spread her hands. “We discovered he was missing last night. His injuries had just stabilized a bit, and the poison was only being suppressed. If we don’t find a way to locate him, he will still die.” Early this morning, she had already sent many people to search for him privately, but there has been no news so far.

"Then tell me now what you want to do!"

"It's exciting to have more people know about the heinous crime of having nine generations of one's family executed!"

She winked at him and then offered him another drink.

Chapter Four

The night was silent, with only the chirping of insects and the whispering of starlight, and the crescent moon shone exceptionally brightly.

"Brother Fu, you've been silent for a long time, say something!"

Inside "Yingyue Yazhu", Fu Yaofeng smashed the bowl, then grabbed the jar and drank directly from it, even finishing the entire plate of fish, without saying another word.

"I'm wondering how long I should continue to help you in your evil deeds."

“Brother Fu, this is about saving lives!” How can it be considered aiding and abetting evil? “Besides, there’s something fishy about this; the motive alone is questionable.”

“The Demon Sect in the Eastern Region is already embroiled in fierce infighting and has gradually drifted apart from the Eastern Region’s royal family. That’s why the Demon Sect members came to the Central Plains to snatch the ‘Dharani Pearl,’ a tribute that the royal family offered to the Heavenly Capital Dynasty. There are many in the sect who don’t like the Heavenly Capital Dynasty. This is a factional dispute between them. You’ve already saved people, so don’t get involved anymore.” Fu Yaofeng didn’t want her to take any more risks and advised her against it.

“Brother Fu, Ran Liuxuanhong dislikes getting involved in power struggles in the Eastern Region. Why would he go to the Central Plains to assassinate the royal family? In addition, these people’s martial arts skills are so poor that they can’t even get close to the Third Prince, let alone kill him. Why would you send these people to assassinate him?”

"Even if the person who instigated this intended to send people to their deaths, they must have had a purpose!"

“This is the key point.” Su Shaochu tapped his palm with his folding fan, indicating that he had gotten to the point. “The assassin I saved has ‘Eqing’ from the Eastern Regions in his body. This poison is somewhat similar to the one my brother used last year. ‘Lingbizhu’ can suppress its poison, but this poison is different from others. It clings to the bone and spreads. Unless Lengbizhu is a sword that can track the poison.”

The terrifying aspect of the poisons in the Eastern Region lies in the fact that the antidote is extremely rare. Last year, this, coupled with her grudge against Zhu Yu, led her to take a desperate gamble.

"The sword that can track poison, Blue Azure Profound Rainbow," Fu Yaofeng recalled. "This sword is as clear as an ice blade, capable of cutting a fine line into the bone that is invisible even to an eyelid. The forging of the sword has the same function as the Cold Jade Pearl. It was presented to the Heavenly Capital Dynasty by the Eastern Region more than ten years ago, and it should still be in the palace now."

More than ten years have passed, and it is unknown whether any imperial officials or military generals have received any rewards.

“I saw Zhu Yu wield this sword at the autumn banquet in the palace three years ago,” Su Shaochu recalled.

"Then it's in the Third Prince's hands?"

"It's impossible to say for sure. After all, Zhu Yu can easily obtain any precious sword. Whether the Blue Azure Profound Rainbow is still kept in the palace or has been taken into the Third Prince's possession is still unknown." Su Shaochu crossed his arms and pondered, "If it's in the palace, we can ask Master to borrow it from the Emperor. But if it's in Zhu Yu's hands, it'll be troublesome." Without the Blue Azure Profound Rainbow, finding the person is useless!

"You care a lot about this assassin!" He seemed determined to save the man.

"I once had a musical interaction with Young Master Xuanhong. If I remember correctly, this young man was one of the people who followed Young Master Xuanhong back then."

It had been too long. The little boy who served her wine back then had all grown up. She recognized the assassin's origins, and she also recognized him by the small black mole next to his eye. Unfortunately, he couldn't wait to meet her. As soon as he regained consciousness, he secretly left, leaving her unable to ask him anything.

"Just because of this, she didn't hesitate to harbor assassins who wanted to kill the royal family!" Such a serious crime was something that even if Su Shaochu was impulsive, she would never do, since it would involve the entire family.

“Young Master Xuanhong is… the person Jun’er likes.” Su Shaochu stood up, came to the pavilion again, and sighed as he gazed at the moonlit sky.

"Feng Jun'er, the female pharmacist from Nanyuan who combines music with the principles of medicine!" Fu Yaofeng frowned. He knew that no matter how carefree and playful Shao Chu was, he always harbored a sense of melancholy towards this person.

"Xue Chu had met him once. He admired Xue Chu's swordsmanship and zither playing. When he decided to return to the Central Plains to live permanently, I met him under Xue Chu's name. This person... has an indescribable quality, a sense of contradiction. He is young but has a refined vicissitude. His seemingly calm demeanor also carries a sadness for the injustices of the world. It is because of these contradictions that his character becomes so captivating."

Back then, she was just curious about who the man was who made Jun'er grieve and cough up blood because she couldn't be with him. After meeting him, she seemed to understand.

“He is connected to Jun’er, and Jun’er entrusted him with this task… I cannot ignore it.”

Su Shaochu picked up the long flute at his waist, his own feelings intertwined with those of others.

"In short, Brother Fu, you have saved a life, and your merit is immeasurable." She turned back to the person opposite her and said, "Also, Brother Fu, please do not refuse the request from Dongyu Wuxun, otherwise... I will only have the path of a tragic sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice?" Judging from her past relationship with these two words, it seems that the only thing she said was, "You always push others to sacrifice themselves!" This is more like Su Shaochu.

“Brother Fu, you’re mistaken.” Su Shaochu waved his fan at him. It was truly heartbreaking to see his brother treated this way. “When it’s time to give my noblest passion, I’m not stingy with my own. I’m just picky about giving my great passion; I have to choose an auspicious day and time.”

"So, when will you, Fourth Young Master Su, finally have the chance to make your grand gesture?" He was waiting to see which day would be the perfect time for her.

"Alas! Heaven never shows mercy. According to the calculations of a master, my great emotional sacrifices will never exist in my destiny. I can only give this honor to someone else."

Fu Yaofeng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, drank a large gulp of wine, and then mocked himself with a cold laugh.

"I forgot, don't take your words too seriously, or you'll drive yourself crazy."

“Brother Fu, Youmo, smile! I haven’t seen you smile since Master left the palace. I’ve only seen you counting down the days for someone.” What a devoted lover! “Speaking of which, I’m in a pitiful situation now. I’m sure you wouldn’t stand idly by if you were in a critical moment.”

"People go their separate ways, their hearts cannot understand each other, and their paths cannot be walked together. No matter what request you make, I'm afraid I will find it difficult to intervene in the struggle between you and the Third Prince."

"Oh dear! Brother Fu, even though it's so dangerous that someone's about to choke me, you're still planning to just stand by and watch me die!"

“If you, Su Shaochu, are the kind of person who would let someone choke you, then you should be wary of the person who chokes you.” Fu Yaofeng said unmovedly, “A true man has things he will do and things he will not do. Besides, I am now the head of the Imperial Guard and it is inconvenient for me to get involved in too many inappropriate things.”

Su Shaochu's approach to him often skirted the edge of Fu Yaofeng's principles: neither aiding and abetting evil nor turning against his own people.

Especially at the end of last year, when she faced the Third Prince Zhu Yu, she wanted him to cut her with his sword in order to set up a scheme. Even though it was just a play, the righteous sword of a famous swordsman would never cut the old, weak, women and children. He made an exception for his "brother" Su Shaochu!

The reason he convinced himself to make an exception was that Su Shaochu was completely incompatible with the words "weak and delicate women and children"!

"Brother Fu, are you afraid that something might happen and you'll lose your position as a guard, unable to stay by Master's side?"

He was always a tough guy, with an imposing physique that never wavered, but at this moment he was somewhat restless, and his words became hesitant and stammering.

"This, this matter has nothing to do with Miss Zhu... uh, no, the Princess."

Su Shaochu's master was none other than Princess Zhu Qingping. She left the Central Plains for decades because of her husband's family's involvement in a treason case in their early years. She traveled the world under the alias Yang Yunxian and met the famous swordsman Fu Yaofeng. The latter fell in love with her extraordinary appearance, temperament and talent at first sight and devoted himself to protecting her for decades. Even after Zhu Qingping regained her status as the Princess and returned to the palace, he tried his best to enter the palace as a guard to protect her.

“Since it’s alright, then I’ll agree to the Crown Prince’s request to transfer you from your post guarding Tianpan Garden, so you can go to the Crown Prince’s side.” Su Shaochu didn’t forget to kindly clarify things for him again. “With your skills, Brother Fu’s future is limitless when you’re by the Crown Prince’s side. Master has been accompanying the Empress to Qianruo Temple for the fifteen-day fasting and prayer ceremony. So please ask the Crown Prince to transfer you away from Tianpan Garden starting tomorrow, so you won’t even have to see Master anymore. What do you think, Brother Fu?”

"you--"

"Brother Fu, does this mean you have absolutely no intention of leaving Tianpan Garden?"

"I--"

"Thank you, Brother Fu, for granting my request and for helping me again." With a swish, the unfolded folding fan fluttered beside Su Shaochu's handsome face, who was calm and composed.

A deep, slow gasp came from Fu Yaofeng's mouth again. He glared at the handsome face that made him grind his teeth, then grabbed the wine jar beside him and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

"Brother Fu, drinking too much wine is bad for your health!"

"Having known you, Su Shao Chu, for so long, and yet you haven't suffered any internal injuries, it means my body is 'better' than I imagined." He gritted his teeth and said resentfully.

"Hey, being healthy is a good thing, Brother Fu, why do you have to say it in such an annoying way?"

Su Shaochu accepted the tea served to them by the servants and kindly tried to comfort his old friend who was struggling with his emotions.

“Brother Fu, just think about it. I am the apple of Master’s eye. If anything happens to me, she will not be able to bear it. Grief is the worst thing for a person. Can you bear to see her like that? The difference between losing your position as a guard and hurting Master’s heart is too great. Even if you feel depressed, that’s all.”

She took another sip of her leisurely tea and said to the face in front of her that was already twitching and contorting, "Besides, why should a real man bother with trivial matters? You are not like a nagging woman. It's a waste that I have always admired your heroic spirit in front of my master."

Fu Yaofeng said through gritted teeth, "This is the last time. There will be no next time."

Setting down his teacup, Su Shaochu smiled brightly.

"Of course, every time is the last time."

***Exclusively produced by Fengmingxuan*** ***

In the dense forest on the outskirts of the capital, a figure staggered along until he saw the familiar, slender, tall figure ahead, at which point he knelt down in respect.

"Meng...Yan Si!"

"Those who fail in their mission will be executed before dawn." Meng Yansi coldly stated the words he had given when issuing the kill order. "Having failed in their mission and only now returning, how can they face their comrades who went to their deaths?"

"I... will definitely risk my life to perish with... the master of the Three Emperors' Mansion, just beg Meng Yansi... to spare my young master..." the boy kowtowed and pleaded.

"Your life is worthless now!"

With a scream, the boy was thrown up by a heavy whip that cut through the wind, crashing into a nearby tree before rolling down the hillside!

"Should we go down and drag that kid out?" asked the burly man standing guard to the side.

“No need. This whip still contains E Qing’s poison; he won’t survive.”

***Exclusively produced by Fengmingxuan*** ***