Chapter 144: Chapter 144

Letting the Astronomical Bureau die knowing the truth would actually be a relief for him.

As the Astronomical Bureau, he could read the heavens and predict people’s fortunes, and he understood everything clearly throughout his life. At this moment, he was bewilderedly thrown into the death prison, holding onto a glimmer of hope, only to bewilderedly walk to his doom.

Everything was confused, that’s the real way to kill someone with despair.

"You damned eunuch, are you brave enough to clarify things?" The Astronomical Bureau was very uncomfortable in this unknown situation beyond his control.

"Aren’t you the one who can read the stars? Aren’t you the one who can predict? Then figure it out yourself."

After finishing his words, Xiao Lizi walked away without looking back.

As the saying goes, a physician cannot heal himself.

The Astronomical Bureau was the same, he could predict the nation’s fate, read the stars, help others with fortunes. But he couldn’t decipher his own fate.

Many people in the palace knew this, and Xiao Lizi was no exception.

At this moment, Xiao Lizi intentionally told the Astronomical Bureau such words just to humiliate him.

The Astronomical Bureau, having his weakness pinpointed, was so angry that he almost spat blood.

On the way he was dragged to the death prison by the Imperial Guard, he cursed Xiao Lizi’s father and mother, abandoning his demeanor and reputation, acting like a madman, completely different from his usually mysterious and aloof appearance, which drew quite a few discussions in the palace.

The Black Market rests during the day.

At this moment, by the entrance of the Black Market, apart from the Crown Prince and his entourage of black-clad men, there was no one else, not even a bystander.

The entire street was enveloped with dense killing intent.

A gust of wind blew past, sweeping up the fallen leaves, adding a sense of mystery and deadly suspense to the Black Market.

The next instant, the sound of sword clashes echoed.

The Crown Prince engaged in a battle with this group of black-clad men.

He had to protect the puppy in his arms and the Crown Princess Consort behind him, while also fighting against these black-clad men, and he himself was already exhausted. Within a few rounds, his arms were slashed twice, with blood gushing out, staining his entire sleeve red.

The pungent smell of blood lingered at the tip of Jun Ning’s nose, and tears flowed unwittingly down her face.

In her past life, she was the one shedding blood to protect others, never had anyone protected her this way, not even those so-called family members. Yet the Crown Prince brother was willing to risk his life to protect her.

This kindness today, Jun Ning silently kept in her heart.

"Our target isn’t you, nor do we wish to entangle with you further." The leader of the black-clad men stopped his attack and looked towards the Crown Prince, saying, "You just need to hand over the child in your arms to me, then you can retreat unharmed."

During the battle with the Crown Prince, these people devised every possible way to target Jun Ning, and the two wounds on the Crown Prince’s arms were inflicted to protect Jun Ning.

It was clear that these people were determined to claim Jun Ning’s life.

Once the Crown Prince handed her over, Jun Ning would undoubtedly be dead.

"Impossible." The Crown Prince flatly refused, leaving no room for negotiation, "Unless I’m dead, otherwise don’t have such wishful thoughts."

After his words fell, he continued to engage in battle with these people.

Clearly, he was already heavily wounded, but he still insisted on protecting Jun Ning in his arms, not allowing her to suffer any harm.

Jun Ning wanted to help but couldn’t do anything to assist, she was still the main burden on the Crown Prince brother.

She looked at the Crown Prince, tears uncontrollably falling down.

On the side, the Crown Princess Consort was not the target of attack for these people, plus she was protected by the Crown Prince, she had hardly suffered any injuries, she was very clear-headed. Orıginal content can be found at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾※𝙣𝙚𝙩

Yet sometimes being clear-headed is also a kind of pain.

She saw the Crown Prince covered in blood, her hands shaking uncontrollably in fear.

A black-clad man thrust his sword towards the Crown Prince’s back again.

This black-clad man struck fiercely; if the Crown Prince were stabbed by him, he would not only lose half his life and be incapacitated, but Jun Ning in his arms wouldn’t escape either.

Children are inherently less resistant, if they were stabbed by that sword aimed at the Crown Prince, even by mere involvement, they would surely die.

The Crown Princess Consort saw this and without hesitation, she spread her arms to protect the Crown Prince’s back, intending to shield the Crown Prince and Jun Ning from this sword.

The person the Crown Prince wanted to protect, she must also help protect.

Seeing the sword getting closer and closer to her chest, getting closer, the Crown Princess Consort tremblingly shut her eyes, biting her lip tightly, making sure she didn’t let out a cry of fear.

But after a while, she felt no pain in her chest.

The Crown Princess Consort opened her eyes with confusion, only to see the black-clad man who had just tried to stab her had blood at the corner of his mouth, glaring intensely, unwillingly falling in front of her.

The black-clad man was dead.

As the black-clad man fell, she saw the leader of the Imperial Guard, Qi Yu, in golden armor behind him.

Qi Yu brought over a hundred Imperial Guards here.

The Crown Princess Consort exhaled with relief, collapsing onto the ground.

"Crown Princess Consort, are you okay?" Qi Yu squatted down and asked.

The Crown Princess Consort shook her head with lingering fear, "I’m fine." After a pause, "Quickly, quickly go help the Crown Prince."

Qi Yu hastily took his men to assist the Crown Prince in killing the black-clad men surrounding him.

Finally, the Crown Prince didn’t have to face so many people alone.

Holding Jun Ning, he retreated two steps, sighed in relief, and felt the heavy stone in his heart settle, safe now.

And he finally surrendered to his exhaustion, closed his eyes and fainted.

Jun Ning, with the Crown Prince fainting, fell to the ground. Fortunately, she was cushioned by the puppy skin she was wearing, so her fall wasn’t too severe, just her elbow felt a slight twinge of pain.

Emperor Yongning was frightened at seeing this, he exclaimed, "Baby."

Emperor Yongning pushed aside the Imperial Guard responsible for protection in front of him, ignoring Xiao Lizi’s obstruction, hurriedly ran towards Jun Ning, scooping her up from the ground, holding her in his arms.

The little girl was wearing a whole body of dog skin, only revealing a dirty little face. Emperor Yongning desperately wanted to check if Jun Ning had any injuries, but her entire body covered in dog fur made it impossible for him to start.

Emperor Yongning glanced at Jun Ning’s dog skin, anxiously asking, "Baby, are you uncomfortable anywhere? Tell Father Emperor quickly."

Seeing Emperor Yongning at that moment, Jun Ning had initially worried about Father Emperor suddenly appearing here, wondering if he was here to capture her, the ’disaster star’, to immediately execute her?

But when she met Emperor Yongning’s eyes filled with worry, she no longer thought that way.

Father Emperor’s concern wasn’t fake, Father Emperor genuinely worried about her.

Besides, if Father Emperor really wanted to deal with her, the ’disaster star’, how could he be worried about her ?

He would directly have someone catch her, take her back for immediate execution, giving the ministers an explanation, wouldn’t he?

Jun Ning stretched out her paw to hug Emperor Yongning’s neck, "Your minister’s child is fine, but...but..."