The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 187 - 186

Chapter 186

Meanwhile, among the men hunting in the inner forest, something unexpected happened. Suddenly, the Fifth Prince’s group, who were in the midst of hunting, encountered a fierce tiger that shouldn’t have been there.

"Watch out, Your Highness!"

The warning shout from De Chaikun rang out, accompanied by the startled cries of birds fleeing the forest in panic. The hunting event, which should have proceeded smoothly, was abruptly thrown into chaos.

The Fifth Prince, who was hunting, was attacked by the ferocious tiger, resulting in injuries. However, his wounds were far less severe than those of De Chaikun, who had shielded the prince with his own body, sustaining serious injuries.

When news of this disturbance reached the Emperor’s ears, he immediately ordered an urgent investigation to find those responsible for the incident.

"Find out who let that beast into the forest!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

With the Emperor’s command, the soldiers and all involved parties began a thorough investigation. Before the hunting event, the royal court had already sent skilled soldiers to check the animals within the park. The recorded list of animals had been reviewed, and there was no mention of a tiger.

"Your Majesty, the guard unit have arrived,"

One of the guards reported to the Emperor, who was deep in thought about the incident. The Emperor didn’t say anything, merely raising his hand to give a signal for those outside to enter.

"Your Majesty, regarding the matter you instructed me to investigate, I have obtained the results."

Upon hearing the report from the loyal and direct secret guard unit, the Son of Heaven, who had been troubled by this issue, snapped out of his reverie.

"What did you find out?"

"Your Majesty, after investigating and questioning all possible witnesses, we concluded that the tiger must have been smuggled into the park. No one knows the origin of this beast."

"No one at all?"

"No, Your Majesty. Even the park attendants responsible for the animals and the venue denied ever seeing this tiger before."

Silence fell again when the Emperor learned that no one had any knowledge of this situation, not even those involved in organizing the event, and those nobles sourcing the animals for the park.

The Emperor, while stroking the jade ring on his finger, pondered deeply. He had a foreboding sense about the incident. It seemed that peace in the royal court might soon be disturbed...

Soon after, the secret guard continued his report, "There are two main possible reasons for the tiger’s attack. Firstly, the tiger might have been defending its territory and attacked intruders instinctively."

"Mm...Though this is unlikely, it’s not unprecedented. And the second reason?" The Emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, the second reason involves a substance called Spring Powder. This powder can drive animals mad and make them attack anything when inhaled. We have checked and found traces of Spring Powder on the Fifth Prince’s garments from the hunting day. It seems someone intended to harm the prince. When the tiger caught the scent of the powder on him, it attacked the prince and his companions, leading to this incident."

The Emperor said nothing, lost in thought. From what had transpired, he could deduce that this was likely a case of rivalry among the princes.

The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with an inscrutable depth, revealing nothing of his thoughts. His previously composed face now displayed a cold expression. If they continued to investigate the culprit behind this incident, it would surely cause turmoil within the royal court. Now was not the time for such chaos. It seemed that the Emperor himself would have to control these tumultuous winds...

After the investigation concluded, the results were announced: it was the negligence of the guards responsible for monitoring the hunting grounds. They had failed to properly inspect the area, allowing the fierce tiger to enter the park. As a result, those guards were sentenced to death.

Even though the matter was officially resolved, the nobles all knew that the truth was far more complex than it appeared. The incident where the Fifth Prince was injured and nearly lost his life could not have been a mere coincidence.

Certainly not!

However, since the Emperor himself had made the announcement, even though many had doubts and wished to oppose, none were brave enough to challenge the Son of Heaven.

Xiping Palace

Within the residence of the Fifth Prince, seven days had passed since he was injured during the hunting event, but his body remained weak from his injuries. According to the royal physician, it would take him a month to fully recover.

In the prince’s bedchamber, a shadowy figure of a guard was kneeling, recounting the entire incident to his master in detail. Upon hearing that the investigation had been concluded, the Fifth Prince’s pale face immediately showed signs of anger.

"Even though everyone knows who the culprit is, Father has so easily decided to end the investigation. How ridiculous!"

The prince’s voice was filled with rage. He glanced at the scars on his body, recalling the life-and-death situation of that day. The pain from those wounds was still fresh in his memory. If it hadn’t been for De Chaikun stepping in to shield him, he would likely be in a coffin by now.

This was certainly no coincidence!

The person who could smuggle a tiger into the park, evading the eyes of the guards, could only be someone from the Crown Prince’s faction!

This incident clearly stemmed from the rivalry between him and the Crown Prince for the future throne. One was the Emperor’s favorite, and the other possessed the position of the heir to the throne, destined to lead Daliang to prosperity.

No one would believe that the brothers were truly harmonious, especially the nobles who had long been divided into clear factions. Ever since they were young, he and the Crown Prince had been rivals in every aspect.

The Fifth Prince constantly thought about their competition since their youth, from their time in the Imperial Academy to martial arts training to determine the strongest. Even the woman he cherished, the Crown Prince sought to take from him.

Given this incident where the Fifth Prince was ambushed and the case remained unresolved, it was no surprise that he was convinced, more than seventy percent, that the one who harmed him was none other than his enemy, the Crown Prince!

"It seems that you and I cannot coexist in this world, Brother,"

The Fifth Prince muttered coldly, his eyes filled with icy resolve. He stared at the small porcelain bottle in his hand, deep in thought.

Three months later.

Within the Xiping Palace of the Fifth Prince of the Daliang Region, a figure approached the study. Walking inside, he respectfully reported an important task he had been assigned to his master behind the desk.

"Greetings, Your Highness. The task you assigned to me has been completed. We now await your further orders."

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince, who had harbored thoughts of revenge since childhood, smirked with satisfaction, his gaze still fixed on the small porcelain bottle in his hand.

"Good...very good. Since he wants my life so badly, he must be prepared to exchange his own. Blood must be repaid with blood. Give the order to proceed with the plan immediately."

The man in black acknowledged the command and took his leave. From that moment on, the once peaceful Daliang would never be peaceful again...

...

..

.

One late at night, Mu Yingying sat at her residence, reading reports from her agents. Her operatives, embedded in various places, had begun to act on her orders. The reports indicated that the Daliang royal court was now in turmoil due to the rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince.

Over the past three months, since she orchestrated the incident, both the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince had fallen into her trap, fighting fiercely against each other, leading to significant losses on both sides.

Day by day, the conflict grew more violent, with public clashes in the court and secret assassinations. The capital was almost in flames from the constant disputes. Although the Emperor tried to prevent the royal court from falling into further chaos, the situation seemed to spiral out of his control, 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As if there was a third party manipulating events from behind the scenes...

Both the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince fought with relentless determination. The nobles were divided into factions. The Emperor’s faction was loyal and officials were directly under the sovereign.

The Crown Prince’s faction tried to prevent this position from being snatched and supported his ascension.

The Fifth Prince’s faction aided in eliminating the Crown Prince’s allies, often attempting to assassinate him, and boost the Fifth Prince’s achievements to be equal to the Crown Prince.

The Emperor of Daliang had to constantly manage the court officials to prevent further chaos and loss. Those under the Emperor’s watch became subdued and reserved, but they didn’t stay still and continued to cause trouble for the opposing side.

At this moment, the Daliang Region was engulfed in chaos due to the internal strife within the royal family, reminiscent of the past experiences and actions of the Emperor. The populace was deeply engrossed in these events, uncertain about the region’s future.

After reading the reports, Mu Yingying revealed a cunning smile. Her meticulous plans were bearing fruit, bringing her immense satisfaction. Despite the long time it took, seeing the results start to show made her feel that the effort was worth it.

It’s nearly there. The plan was nearing completion!

As Mu Yingying was in high spirits from the reports, Lu Jiu entered the room with a tray of snacks he had prepared for her, as he always did. Every night, it was Lu Jiu who personally prepared and brought her snacks.

Mu Yingying put down the documents and began to eat the snacks and nodded with great satisfaction as Lu Jiu watched her with gentle eyes.

"Very soon, everything will go according to our plan. The royal court is so chaotic now that they have no time to monitor external movements. It’s the perfect opportunity to act,"

She turned and said to Lu Jiu with a smiling face, looking cheerful as if discussing something trivial. Yet, what she was planning was far more significant than her previous actions against the Empress Dowager, Shin Wang, and the Mu family.

That was because Mu Yingying was planning to overthrow the current Emperor, publicly announce the imperial decree of the former emperor to rectify past wrongs, avenge her deceased mother, and eliminate future threats to her and her siblings.

Three years ago, while still in the Qingzhou Region, after dealing with the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang, Mu Yingying began planning her next move against the Daliang royal court. She started by searching for the imperial decree that was the root of all the troubles.

It took her a long time, but she eventually discovered that the decree was hidden not far from her, concealed within a landscape painting passed down from her mother to Mu Gongzhen.

Once she found the decree, Mu Yingying sought to contact rebel group in Daliang and sent many people to infiltrate the capital of Daliang. Her plan had now progressed to the point where it was close to fruition.

Lu Jiu glanced briefly at the documents beside Mu Yingying. He had read their contents and had largely coordinated the efforts for Mu Yingying.

"The rebel group has already infiltrated the capital. They are just waiting for your signal to act,"

Lu Jiu reported what he had received from the Daliang rebel group. They were now fully prepared and ready to advance towards the palace gates as soon as Mu Yingying gave the signal.

The reclamation of the throne and the revenge against the Emperor were about to begin...

"Tell them to wait a bit longer."

Mu Yingying didn’t intend to act immediately, preferring to wait until she was absolutely certain. She did not want to rush into something she wasn’t sure about, or else it risked bringing harm to herself and her family.

"Wait a little longer. Wait until the royal court is in even more disarray. When the time comes, our chances of success will be greater," she said, happily munching on her snacks. Lu Jiu made no objection as he agreed with her.

"What will you do when everything is over, Miss?"

Lu Jiu’s question made Mu Yingying pause. She thought for a moment before replying, "I will travel the world."

Her big round eyes sparkled at the thought. She also had dreams, but ever since her return to this life, she had responsibilities and a desire to change the fate of herself and her siblings. Every moment and step she took was filled with bloodshed and revenge, leaving no room to live her dreams.

However, she did not regret how things had turned out. After dealing with all her enemies, she believed it wouldn’t be too late to pursue her dreams. There were many places in this world she wanted to see with her own eyes, to live life to the fullest, as a reward for her long struggles.

In her previous life, she died before she had the chance to truly live. When she came back, she dedicated herself to revenge from a young age, never having the chance to live like a child.

Reflecting on this, she found it quite amusing. From the little girl who woke from a nightmare, she no longer felt like a child. Her thoughts and strategies were wiser than before her execution and turned back in time, perhaps due to knowing the truth about everything, which opened her eyes and fueled her quest for revenge.

Now, if everything went as planned, she could finally relax and travel the world without any worries.

Her brother and sister were still with her, they had not died, living happily. That alone brought her great joy.

"And what about you? What will you do next? Will you return to claim the throne of Basui?"

Mu Yingying asked Lu Jiu curiously. She wanted to know his plans after everything was settled. No matter what he chose to do, she would support him wholeheartedly.

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