Granny Gao cast a sidelong glance at Old Su in Wei Dongling's arms and sneered coldly, "Ignorant child. Do you really think we'd care whether this half - dead old man can get out of prison?"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling was taken aback. What did she mean? Could it be that the ambush by the Zhao Mansion today was ostensibly aimed at Old Su, but actually intended to get rid of her?
Before she could think further, Granny Gao flicked a green Buddha bead towards her. Wei Dongling, quick - eyed and quick - handed, rolled with Old Su in her arms, narrowly avoiding the bead. Instantly breaking out in a cold sweat, she asked coldly, "What on earth did I do to offend Queen Zhao that you've been hounding me? Since I'm not the son of a traitor, why have you been trying to kill me again and again?"
Wei Dongling knew she was no match for Granny Gao. She said these words just to stall for time, not expecting the granny to answer.
Unexpectedly, looking at her face, Granny Gao smiled sinisterly, "Perhaps during the great fire in Jingyang Palace back then, Wei Jiang stole something in the chaos. So, you have to pay with your life!"
Old Prime Minister Su in her arms trembled violently. Wei Dongling interrupted and asked, "What rare thing did he steal that has made Queen Zhao so relentless for all these years? Tell me, and I'll have someone look for it for you!" Knowing she was no match for the granny, she stalled for time while looking around, hoping someone would come to help before the granny flew into a rage.
Soon, she saw a carriage parked far behind the granny. The Crown Prince was sitting upright inside, lifting the curtain and looking over. His sarcastic face was full of schadenfreude.
A chill ran through Wei Dongling's heart.
She wondered how long the Crown Prince had been watching. Witnessing this, he clearly had no intention of intervening.
Granny Gao stopped wasting words and leaped towards her, striking a palm at Wei Dongling's face.
Wei Dongling wanted to dodge, but if she did, Old Su on the ground would surely get hurt. Without hesitation, she gritted her teeth and prepared to take the blow head - on.
Suddenly, a black - clothed man rushed out, kicking Granny Gao far away and protecting Wei Dongling behind him.
Wei Dongling looked up. The black - clothed man had his face covered, and there was a dark, centipede - like scar behind his left ear.
It was Jingzhe!
Jingzhe didn't look back. He stared at Granny Gao menacingly and gritted his teeth at Wei Dongling, "You go quickly!"
Wei Dongling's shoulder hurt badly. Without further hesitation, she helped Old Su up and limped away.
Jingzhe slowly drew out the soft sword from his waist and walked step by step towards Granny Gao, who was lying on the ground.
Granny Gao calmly stood up. She glanced at the departing Wei Dongling and then at the oncoming black - clothed man, a smile playing on her lips.
She dusted off the ashes on her brocade robe and played with a crystal - clear green Buddha bead. With a few quick movements, she dodged Jingzhe's successive killing moves.
Surprised by the granny's incredible speed, Jingzhe's eyes widened. His soft sword was like a swimming dragon, stabbing at the vital parts of Granny Gao one by one.
Granny Gao dodged two attacks and then shot a Buddha bead at him. Jingzhe quickly retracted his sword. The green Buddha bead hit the soft sword with a clang and bounced far away.
After several moves, Jingzhe found he couldn't hurt the granny at all. His fighting spirit was aroused. He tightened his grip on the soft sword and prepared to attack again.
Granny Gao glanced at him and said with a smile, "Years ago, the Zhao family spent a fortune to recruit a group of dead - men. One of them was good at using a soft sword. When not in use, it was hidden around the waist; when in action, it would emit a dragon's roar. I suppose that's you, right? What's your name again? Let me think. Ah, it's Jingzhe, isn't it?"
After all these years, this old granny still remembered his name.
Jingzhe wasn't angry. He looked at Granny Gao with cold eyes and didn't answer.
Granny Gao laughed, "I remember you were so outstanding back then that even Prime Minister Su's loyal dog, Wei Jiang, fell under your sword. But now, you've become a turn - coat, protecting a little girl and attacking me?"
Thinking of Wei Jiang's death, Jingzhe sighed silently.
If he hadn't witnessed Wei Jiang's deep love for his daughter with his own eyes back then, a cold - blooded man like him would never have treated Wei Dongling differently.
It was a kind of family affection he, who had been abandoned by his parents since childhood, had never experienced. That was why Jingzhe instinctively didn't want to see that child get hurt.
Seeing Granny Gao attacking her, he didn't hesitate to jump out and protect Wei Dongling.
Of course, Granny Gao would never understand this.
Jingzhe said coldly, "Who I want to save has nothing to do with you!"
Granny Gao scoffed, "Naturally it has nothing to do with me. I'm just kindly reminding you. I'm afraid you don't know the stakes and save someone you shouldn't, which might anger your master."
Jingzhe ignored her words as nonsense. He tightened his grip on the soft sword and roared, "If you want to fight, then fight. Why so much nonsense?"
Jingzhe waved his soft sword and stabbed at Granny Gao. The sword trembled in the air, emitting a dragon's roar, aiming straight at her throat. Granny Gao tilted her head to avoid it and then struck back with a palm. Jingzhe dodged to the side.
The Crown Prince watched coldly as Wei Dongling carried Old Su and ran quickly. He clenched his fists. Seeing that she was getting closer and closer to the Ministry of Justice, the Crown Prince could only sigh softly and walked towards Jingzhe.
After several moves between Jingzhe and Granny Gao, they were evenly matched.
Jingzhe's fighting spirit was fully aroused, and he became more and more ruthless. Suddenly, he heard a soft cough from behind. It was his master, the Crown Prince. Jingzhe's hand holding the sword trembled, and he silently retracted it.
Granny Gao stopped and turned to salute, "This old servant pays respects to the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince glanced at Granny Gao and snorted, "Even when beating a dog, one has to consider its master. It's not appropriate for you to leave the palace during the day. It's better not to be seen. Please go back."
Granny Gao looked at the gate of the Ministry of Justice, curtsied to the Crown Prince, then got up and disappeared into the forest.
Jingzhe knew that his impulsive action had been seen by the Crown Prince. He didn't know if the Crown Prince would be angry, so he quickly knelt down to plead for forgiveness.
The Crown Prince looked down at Jingzhe on the ground and asked, "Why did you save that woman?"
Jingzhe was extremely panicked and replied, "Previously, I accidentally learned that the woman was a servant in General Qi's mansion. Thinking that Your Highness intended to befriend Miss Qi, I didn't think twice before I stepped in to save her."
The Crown Prince curled his lips into a sarcastic smile. Looking at Jingzhe on his knees, his eyes turned even colder. He said calmly, "This Crown Prince suddenly remembers an old and taboo incident in the palace that no one has dared to mention for years."
"Thirteen years ago, there was a great fire in Jingyang Palace. Concubine Chen and a dozen other servants, a total of seventeen lives, were buried in the fire and couldn't escape. At that time, Concubine Chen was not only more than five months pregnant, but it was also said that a three - year - old princess was burned to death. She was Concubine Chen's eldest daughter."
Jingzhe looked up at the Crown Prince with bright eyes, cold sweat pouring down his body.
"That princess should be this Crown Prince's fifth younger sister, Murong Wanlin."