novelden Chapter 833: The Prince Is Sinister!
Chapter 833: The Prince Is Sinister!
At the foot of the mountain, a group of soldiers was transporting provisions, led by Wang Cheng.
"Mr. Wang, this mountain road is indeed muddy and difficult, but it’s not as bad as the Prince says. I wonder what his reasons are for delaying the transport?"
Wang Cheng was wearing a raincoat and a wide-brimmed hat, surrounded by pouring rain and the sound of raindrops, but the official was close enough to hear him.
Wang Cheng was very pleased with the question, and with a faint smile, he said, "Well... perhaps only the Prince himself knows!"
His words carried a special implication, inevitably causing people to make wild guesses.
"Once this matter is settled, we must report it to His Majesty for judgment!"
This reflected his dissatisfaction and determination to deal with Li Qingmu.
Wang Cheng was increasingly satisfied. It was said that this Regent King was as wise as a demon, but it seemed that was not the case!
"Creak, creak..."
The cart transporting goods was slowly moving forward. Wang Cheng glanced around and suddenly said, "I feel the need to find a place to relieve myself!"
"Alright, Mr. Wang, please go ahead! Up front, stop for a bit!"
The official who had previously raised questions immediately said, looking very ingratiating, and Wang Cheng just smiled and went into a nearby grove.
The place was very muddy, and the rain curtain made it difficult to see the situation there clearly. Once Wang Cheng entered, he crouched down slightly, and beside him, another person appeared.
This person looked exactly like Wang Cheng from appearance, even sharing the same voice and mannerisms, so that others couldn’t tell the difference.
"You are stricken with a terminal illness and close to death, but if you play this role well, your family will enjoy endless wealth and glory. This is your opportunity, be sure to cherish it!"
"Yes, I understand!"
The shadow nodded and then walked out of the grove while the real Wang Cheng stealthily left.
The impostor returned to the group transporting provisions and said little, instead urging everyone to hurry and deliver the goods more quickly.
He intended to appear urgent, avoiding being questioned and revealing a flaw.
Sure enough, seeing his anxiety, the officials nearby dared not inquire further.
Everyone pushed the soldiers to hurry the transport.
"Once we cross these mountains, the Southern Territory is ahead, brothers, hang in there a little longer!"
The impostor Wang Cheng shouted, boosting everyone’s energy and making them move faster.
However!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Just as they were rushing on, there was a sudden series of violent noises, and the entire earth shook violently!
"No! A landslide, a landslide!"
A small official following along screamed sharply, regretting why he had joined them in transporting provisions.
His family was from the mountains, and during the rainy season, they always feared flash floods, and this rumbling sound was indeed the sound of a flash flood!
Such a flash flood was impossible to escape, leaving only death!
"Quick, run, it’s a flash flood!"
The clerk screamed, jumping three feet high and turned to flee.
However, as he turned, he saw a figure.
The voice was so familiar because the figure made no attempt to hide his face, appearing openly behind them!
"Prince... Prince?"
The clerk uttered in a dry voice, watching as Li Qingmu leapt up and then raised his hand to strike a hillside beside him!
"Boom! Boom, boom, boom!"
Under his powerful blow, the mountain forest shook even more violently!
"The Prince, it’s the Regent King, he wants to kill us! He wants to destroy these provisions, he wants to rebel... urgh..."
The clerk screamed in horror but barely managed to say a few words before a large rock fell abruptly from above, crushing him into pulp in an instant!
The colleagues standing beside the clerk were petrified by his gruesome death, especially upon realizing who had attacked; their bodies shook uncontrollably.
It was... the Prince!
The Regent King, Qi Junmu!
Wasn’t he supposed to be providing relief to the disaster victims? Yet he was here, killing and causing a flash flood? Did he not want the Southern Territory’s rebellion to subside?
What was he planning?
That question immediately surfaced in everyone’s mind, and someone instinctively yelled, "He wants to rebel! Ah—"
As the small official spoke, his body burst apart suddenly!
Without any warning, his body exploded just like that!
"Devil, devil, he’s the devil, run quickly!"
"..."
In an instant, chaos ensued as everyone scrambled to flee.
The impostor Wang Cheng was even more dramatic; he escorted a few colleagues to safety, covered their retreat, and then was crushed flat by a massive boulder that fell from the sky!
"The Prince’s intentions are malicious, the Prince’s intentions are malicious!"
Before the rock fell, the impostor Wang Cheng’s last words were heard.
Surrounded by deserters, they had already disregarded any assignments to provisions, focusing solely on escape. Fortunately, the area was well-connected, and with many trees, many clever soldiers escaped as soon as they heard that deafening noise.
The "Prince" in midair continued attacking them, officials continually meeting their demise, yet some managed to escape successfully.
The "Prince" didn’t pursue those who got away but instead wore a cold smile before turning to leave.
In the distance, Xuan Xu just happened to witness the scene, thoroughly bewildered.
What... what on earth was happening? Why would the rightful Prince turn out like this? Why did he cause a flash flood, killing so many officials?
However, those thoughts merely flickered through his mind, and he immediately realized Li Qingmu was finished! Regardless of whether that person was him or not, with so many officials having seen him act, Empress Dowager Li could use this incident to take him down directly!
"Xuan Xu!"
A familiar voice called from behind, and Xuan Xu turned slowly to face Li Qingmu.
"Prince... Prince, something has happened..."
Xuan Xu even realized his voice was trembling while speaking.
Li Qingmu didn’t ask what had happened; merely looking at the mess here revealed enough.
"The flash flood was triggered, and... it was you who triggered it!"
Li Qingmu was silent, surveying the corpses and mess all around, saying nothing.
After a long time, he said, "I... I was outwitted!"
For the first time, he had been so thoroughly outmaneuvered!
There’s a phrase, "when equals meet," and this time Li Qingmu had indeed met his match!
"Who? Who set you up like this?"
Li Qingmu pondered for a long time and said, "It was him... it must be him! He is still alive!"
If someone else had said this, Xuan Xu might not have believed it, but Li Qingmu’s reputation for caution was well-known, so if he said it, it was most likely true!
"Where would he be?? Damn, he’s truly haunting us like a ghost!"
At this moment, Xuan Xu was also enraged!