Chu Qianli was pushed out by Lan Qing, and with a rapid movement, she was already far away.
When she looked back, she saw Lan Qing being struck against a rock and rolling down.
Although the distance was considerable, making it difficult to discern Lan Qing's appearance clearly, he had already been severely injured and spitting blood prior to this. Now, with this forceful impact, his injuries were undoubtedly compounded.
She wanted to turn back.
But if she did, Lan Qing's sacrifice to save her would be in vain.
With a hardening of her heart, Chu Qianli executed another rapid movement, quickly departing and vanishing without a trace.
"There are indeed assassins! Pursue them quickly!" Although Prince Yu was in a wheelchair, his speed was not at all diminished. He quickly arrived before Lan Qing.
"Guards, capture the assassins at once!"
Chu Qianli was gone.
Prince Yu's eyes showed no displeasure. Instead, as he looked at Lan Qing, who had fallen to the ground, a hint of pleased amusement flickered in his gaze.
"Grand Tutor, how did you become so injured? Who exactly was that assassin? To have inflicted such severe harm upon you."
He waved his hand and called out, "Someone, the Grand Tutor is gravely wounded, quickly help him inside for treatment!"
"Your Highness, we..." The young palace maids from Lingjiu Hall wished to approach.
Unexpectedly, they were blocked by Prince Yu's guards.
"You failed to protect the Grand Tutor; every one of you deserves death!"
Prince Yu waved his hand and commanded sternly, "Take them away and imprison them for me!"
"Your Highness... Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor!"
The young palace maids were escorted away by the guards.
The guards outside wished to rush in but were blocked by Lan Fan. "This is Lingjiu Hall, the domain of my Lan clan. I am here; who dares to act recklessly?"
"Mr. Lan!" The captain of the guards responsible for protecting Lingjiu Hall naturally recognized him. This Mr. Lan was also a formidable figure.
At one point, he had almost become the master of Lingjiu Hall.
But now, the master of Lingjiu Hall was Lan Qing.
"Mr. Lan, we must guard the Grand Tutor." They had been unable to stop them when they barged in earlier.
Firstly, it was because Prince Yu led the group, and secondly, with Lan Fan's assistance, who would dare to obstruct them?
But now, they saw the Grand Tutor was injured?
They hadn't even seen the Grand Tutor's appearance!
"Is Lingjiu Hall a place you can trespass upon?" Lan Fan flicked his sleeve and angrily declared, "Begone!"
"This..."
"If you don't leave immediately, do you wish to disturb the peace of Lingjiu Hall?"
"Your subordinate dares not, but..." The captain of the guards looked at Prince Yu.
Prince Yu's guards were also within Lingjiu Hall.
Prince Yu smiled faintly. "This King was merely too anxious to protect the Grand Tutor. This King naturally had no intention of trespassing into Lingjiu Hall."
He waved his hand.
Gui Tong immediately led the guards and withdrew from Lingjiu Hall.
Seeing this, the captain of the guards dared not linger any longer and quickly led his men away as well.
As soon as they retreated, the captain of the guards quickly pulled aside the副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general). "Quickly report to the commander that Prince Yu has arrived with Mr. Lan Fan, the Grand Tutor is severely wounded, and the situation is dire. It is imperative to request the Emperor to come personally!"
"Yes!" That guard departed.
Everyone could only continue to guard outside Lingjiu Hall.
No one knew how the Grand Tutor was faring!
...Chu Qianli quickly evaded the pursuit of Prince Yu's guards.
Strangely enough, they seemed to have no real determination to capture her. After pursuing for a while, their speed slowed down.
It was as if whether they caught her or not was not that important to them.
Therefore, their target tonight was not her?
Chu Qianli stopped on a high wall, looking back in the direction of Lingjiu Hall.
The more she looked, the more her unease spread.
Their target was not her...
Suddenly, her heart tightened.
Damn! Their target tonight was Lan Qing!