CHAPTER 476: CHAPTER 476 : SETTLING SCORES FROM THE PAST LIFE (7)

Hours passed by, but Zhang Fengxi had yet to return from outside.

Huddled together in the mausoleum, Zhang Mingrui and Xie Junjie grew increasingly anxious over their father’s absence. Eventually, Head Eunuch Lu from the Golden Dragon Palace came to pick both princes up.

"Wait, what happened?" Head Servant Zhou demanded to know. "His Highness forbade anyone from leaving the palace until he returns."

Head Eunuch Lu cupped his fists at Head Servant Zhou.

"His Highness the Crown Prince Consort was heavily injured from a confrontation with the demons. He has been taken to the Golden Dragon Palace for an extensive treatment. The two princes shall remain under the Emperor’s protection until the Crown Prince Consort recovers."

Head Servant Zhou, Mingyu, and Qingyun gasped in unison.

"Oh, no, His Highness has barely recovered from the lightning punishment," Qingyun’s eyes welled up with tears. "What is going to happen to the princes now..."

"Stop saying nonsense, Qingyun!" Head Servant Zhou snapped. "His Highness is going to be just fine. He just wants to see his sons."

Mingyu had nothing to say. She merely shook her head fervently in disbelief.

"Al... Allow me to escort the little princes to meet their father," Head Servant Zhou insisted.

"Please," Head Eunuch Lu gestured toward the cloud carriage outside the gate.

Xie Junjie and Zhang Mingrui, apprehension tightening their chests, climbed into the cloud carriage with Head Servant Zhou grimly taking the seat between them.

The boys, oblivious to their father’s condition, could only glean the gravity of the situation from Head Servant Zhou’s taut expression.

By the time the cloud carriage reached the imposing gate of the Golden Dragon Palace, night had already draped its inky cloak across the sky.

Despite the lateness of the hour, palace officials raced up and down the marble staircase leading to the audience hall, their faces etched with worry and their movements driven by an urgency they couldn’t explain.

Head Servant Zhou took both princes by their little hands and led them upstairs, heading to the opulent audience hall.

Seated on the Dragon Throne, illuminated by several tall, burning candles, was Xie Jianshen, who leaned slightly to the side, propping his chin up with a hand.

Before him, a disheveled figure was kneeling on the marble floor as she gave her report.

It was Wu Shenxia, the Juhua Palace Mistress.

When Xie Jianshen noticed the twin princes approaching, he held up a hand to gesture for Wu Shenxia to stop speaking.

"General Wu?" Xie Junjie called out to Wu Shenxia, uncertainty lacing his voice.

Although Wu Shenxia was a frequent visitor to Fuxi Palace, the boys had only ever seen her meticulous appearance. Now, however, caked with dirt and dried blood, she cut a terrifying figure.

Wu Shenxia shot the little dragon prince a weak smile.

"Prince Junjie, are you doing well?"

"My Daddy..."

Xie Junjie did not get to finish his question when Xie Jianshen’s authoritative voice cut through the air.

"Junjie, Mingrui. Come here."

Zhang Mingrui gave Wu Shenxia an acknowledging nod before he dragged his younger twin toward the dais.

Xie Jianshen scooped both boys into his arms and let them sit on his lap.

"You may go now, General Wu," Xie Jianshen spoke. "Nurse your wounds and rest for the night."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wu Shenxia shot the twin boys a surreptitious look before she bowed her head and took her leave.

Zhang Mingrui put his tiny arms around Xie Jianshen and looked up at the man with a pair of big, innocent eyes.

"Imperial Uncle, what happened to Daddy?"

Xie Jianshen patted the little tiger on the head and smiled.

"Your father is wounded during the fight against the demons at Wuyang Palace. He won’t be back for a while, so why don’t you and your brother stay with me for a while?"

"How bad?" Xie Junjie, ever the more perceptive one, asked.

"It is late," Xie Jianshen said. "Why don’t you two go to bed first? Let’s talk first thing in the morning, alright?"

Xie Jianshen’s refusal to give them a direct answer only served to fan the flame of anxiety in the boys’ heart.

"I want to say good night to Daddy," Zhang Mingrui said.

"As do I," Xie Junjie quipped. "Imperial Uncle, where is Daddy right now?"

Xie Jianshen pursed his lips, a frown creasing his brow as he met the gaze of the twin boys. Their innocent faces were a stark reminder of their mother. Yet, a stark difference separated them. Xie Jianyu, unlike his sons, had been molded by obedience from his very first breath.

"Your Daddy, he..."

Thankfully, Jiang Rufeng chose that time to present himself before his troubled wife and persistent nephews.

"Ah, the little princes," he remarked with a smile.

Xie Jianshen put his arms around Zhang Mingrui and Xie Junjie, engulfing them in a loving embrace.

"And?" He directed the incomplete question at his husband.

"He’s awake, and he insists on speaking with you."

Xie Junjie tugged at Xie Jianshen’s lapels.

"Imperial Uncle, please let us come with you."

Zhang Mingrui too voiced similar request.

"Imperial Uncle, please let us see Daddy."

Xie Jianshen gave both boys a kiss before he deftly dumped them into Jiang Rufeng’s waiting arms.

"If you stay with Uncle Rufeng obediently, I will let you see your father before bed," he said.

The Heavenly Emperor flicked his sleeves and stalked out of the audience hall without another word.

Zhang Fengxi was being treated at the Silver Mist Pavilion by the best physicians of the palace.

When Xie Jianshen arrived with his entourage, the servants and maids who caught sight of him immediately dropped to their knees and bowed their heads in deference.

"His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor has arrived!" Head Eunuch Lu announced.

Inside the lavish chamber, three physicians were attending to the Supreme General at once. They too fell to their knees when Xie Jianshen entered the room.

"Dispense with the formalities," Xie Jianshen said. "How is he?"

"The Supreme General regained consciousness a while ago. He said that he needed to speak with you, but now he fell unconscious again."

Xie Jianshen approached the bed, his gaze drawn to Zhang Fengxi’s pallid face. The Supreme General had lost a significant amount of blood from the stomach wound. Worse still, his exertion had reignited old internal injuries lingering from the lightning punishment.

And yet, instead of showing mercy and leaving Zhang Fengxi to recuperate, Xie Jianshen turned to look at the physicians and asked, "What are you waiting for? Wake him up."