Chapter 159: None of Your Concern

Jun Yeli instantly pursued the figure. Surveying the sprawling mountain forest, he found the terrain somewhat complex due to the dense canopy of trees.

For a moment, Jun Yeli was unsure where to begin his search. Just as he was deep in thought, a slight rustle from a distant thicket suddenly caught his attention.

He jerked his head up, only to see a dark figure flash past his eyes—something was clearly amiss.

"Halt!" Disregarding the risks, Jun Yeli bolted after the figure. Startled birds fluttered up into the canopy of the vast woods as the two men chased each other, neither daring to pause for even a second.

Just when he expected the chase to continue indefinitely, the figure abruptly halted in a clearing, and Jun Yeli dropped down right before him.

Frowning at the man clad tightly in dark garments, Jun Yeli demanded angrily, "Who on earth are you?"

Faced with this interrogation, the stranger let out a contemptuous laugh. "Merely a dying man. What is the point of knowing so much?"

The threatening tone carried an undercurrent of unease. Jun Yeli knitted his brows. Before he could react, his ears pricked up as he sensed a flurry of movement all around him.

Lifting his gaze, he saw several figures in black descending from all directions, brandishing broadswords with unmistakable murderous intent aimed straight at his life.

"Damn it, it's a trap!" Jun Yeli realized too late. Retreating swiftly to the side, he barely managed to dodge the first assailant's strike, but subsequent attacks followed in rapid succession, leaving him with little room to evade.

As he dodged and paraded, the assailants grew increasingly fierce, attacking with the relentless vigor of men high on stimulants, never pausing for a breath.

Amidst the frantic melee, Jun Yeli glanced at the man who had lured him here and was now merely watching the battle. As their eyes met, an inarticulable sense of familiarity welled up in his heart.

"Who on earth is this fellow?" There was no time to ponder; the present peril pressed upon him with mounting anxiety.

The mocking voice of the man in black followed closely. "Your Majesty, rest in peace right here. Someone will eventually come to find you."

With that, the man turned and started to walk away.

A pang of unreasoned panic gripped Jun Yeli, prompting him to roar, "Stop! Where is the miraculous physician?"

Despite the mortal danger threatening him, the thought of Hua Rong lying on her sickbed at death's door prevented Jun Yeli from keeping his composure. With a sudden shove against his blade, he delivered a heavy kick to the two men in front of him and lunged forward to pursue the fleeing figure. Yet how could those assassins let him have his way?

As the group closed ranks around him once more, and the figure of the man grew increasingly distant, Jun Yeli finally lost his temper. "I am merely trying to save the woman I love, yet you scoundrels obstruct me at every turn. You deserve to die!"

With a fierce gnashing of teeth, his gaze sharpened into a piercing, lethal chill. He slammed his foot violently into the ground, and his body instantly soared into the air.

Channeling his inner Qi to its peak, Jun Yeli transformed his energy into form, using the surrounding leaves as flying blades that he hurled outward.

In a split second, the entire forest was filled with a flurry of falling leaves acting as throwing daggers. Though not fatal, the numerous superficial cuts inflicted upon the attackers successfully bought him some time.

Not lingering to play games with them any longer, Jun Yeli seized the opening and hastened away.

Along the tracking path, the shadow of the man in black was nowhere to be seen, nor could he find the so-called miraculous physician.

Vexed, Jun Yeli struck a tree with a heavy blow of his fist, frustration churning within him. "Let me not find out who you are, or I shall tear you limb from limb!"

With no time to dwell on his hatred, he could only spur his horse and gallop back toward the imperial palace, eager to visit Hua Rong in the Xuanji Palace.

Yet upon reaching the entrance, he overheard joyous voices coming from within. "Wonderful! Thank goodness Her Ladyship is safe. We owe this entirely to the Second Highness!"

"Indeed! Had it not been for the Second Highness, Her Ladyship might not have survived this ordeal!"

As the voices chimed in one after another, their overflowing excitement carried a subtle, delicate implication.

"That fellow is here too?" This boded ill. Jun Yeli strode hastily into the chambers, only to find Hua Rong, who had already regained consciousness, and Jun Yczheng, standing nearby with a serene smile.

Such a harmonious scene seemed utterly baffling. "You are recovered?"

Jun Yeli rushed eagerly to the bedside. The joy of seeing Hua Rong's eyes open was simply beyond words.

Yet, faced with this display of concern, Hua Rong merely moved her lips and shrank her shoulders slightly, as if deliberately distancing herself from him.

This subtle, distant gesture highlighted telling details. Noticing that something was amiss, Jun Yeli looked somewhat surprised. "What is ails you? Could it be that you are still unwell?"

"Your Majesty overthinks. This concubine's health is perfectly fine. If there is nothing else, might I be allowed to rest alone for a moment?"

Raising her head slightly, Hua Rong looked at the man who had been so full of anxiety yet failed to stay by her side at the critical moment, and the chill in her heart deepened.

When she was sent to the prison cell, she had unconditionally trusted and understood Jun Yeli. Yet now, when she stood on the brink of death, he had vanished without a trace. Could it be that he truly intended to abandon her and treat her merely as a pawn for peace between two nations?

Suppressing her breath, Hua Rong turned her head away, clearly indicating she had no intention of engaging further.

Such an uncharacteristically cold attitude caught Jun Yeli off guard. He stood there dumbfounded, at a loss for words for a long while.

On the contrary, Jun Yczheng, standing nearby, chose that moment to play the righteous peacemaker. "Imperial Brother, since Her Ladyship wishes to rest, why don't we step outside? Her health has just been restored; she shouldn't be subjected to such disturbances and agitation."

Such words might have sounded acceptable coming from anyone else, but coming from Jun Yczheng, they grated on the nerves.

Glares of displeasure shot from Jun Yeli as he muttered angrily, "She is my consort; keeping vigil by her side is only natural. How can you call this a disturbance?"

Though he said this, Hua Rong clearly showed no welcome for his presence. Jun Yczheng shrugged, a playful, teasing smile playing on his lips. "When Her Ladyship was at death's door, Your Majesty was nowhere to be found. Now that you hear she has awakened, you come rushing over to offer warmth and solicitude. One hardly knows what to make of this..."

The seemingly casual remark carried an unmistakable undertone of provocation. Hearing this, Hua Rong naturally felt unsettled, yet Jun Yeli had no intention of offering any explanation.

He merely glared coldly at Jun Yczheng. "What business is this of yours?"