Free Web NovelChapter 412: Chapter 415: The Only Family
In the dead of night, a knock came from the door of Wu Wang’s bedchamber.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Three very rhythmic knocks.
Wu Wang’s eyes snapped open.
Gritting his teeth against the pain from his wound, he carefully sat up and called toward the door.
"The door’s not locked."
CREAK.
The door was pushed open from the outside. Li Ying, dressed all in black, stepped over the threshold and entered soundlessly.
He took out a fire lighter and lit the oil lamp on the low cabinet by the bed.
A dim, yellow light spread through the room.
Li Ying called out softly, "Uncle."
Wu Wang leaned back against the pillows. His complexion was already fairer than most, but now, severely injured, his face was a near-pathological pale. His long, black hair was splayed out behind him, and his features were delicate and profound, possessing a strange, androgynous beauty.
He asked in a hoarse voice, "Why are you here?"
Li Ying said, "I heard you were injured, so I came to see you."
Wu Wang gave a dismissive laugh.
"It’s just a minor injury. It won’t kill me."
Li Ying hesitated for a moment before deciding to voice the doubt in his heart.
"That assassin... was it your...?"
Wu Wang admitted it readily.
"I arranged it. That assassin was a Death Warrior I trained myself.
I deliberately had him display his formidable martial arts in front of Prince Dongyang to entice the prince into taking him on as a Guest."
He paused, then added.
"He isn’t the only spy I’ve placed by Prince Dongyang’s side. You’ll learn all about it when you gradually take over these matters in the future."
When Li Ying heard the news that Wu Wang had been grievously injured while protecting the Emperor, he had suspected that the whole affair was likely orchestrated by his uncle. That was why he had come in the middle of the night, wanting to ask him about it face-to-face.
Li Ying frowned. "Why didn’t you discuss this with me before you did it?"
If he hadn’t heard about his uncle’s injury from someone else, he would still be completely in the dark.
Wu Wang just laughed again. "It’s such a trivial matter, there’s no need to discuss it. I can handle it myself."
Li Ying lowered his head, staring at the shadow at his feet, and said sullenly.
"This isn’t the first time."
Wu Wang didn’t understand. "What?"
Li Ying said, "Whether it was arranging the assassin this time, or instigating the West Liang people to kidnap Manman last time, you never discussed it with me."
Wu Wang soothed him in a gentle voice, "There’s no need to bother you with things I can handle on my own."
Li Ying raised his head and looked at him deeply.
"You don’t trust me, do you? You’re afraid I’ll mess up your plans, so you never say anything and just arrange everything yourself."
Wu Wang sighed, helpless. "How could you think that? You are my nephew, my only family in this world. If I can’t even trust you, who else can I trust?"
Li Ying was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.
"Uncle, are you really my uncle?"
The question made Wu Wang’s heart skip a beat.
He frowned, retorting instead of answering, "What kind of question is that? How could I not be your uncle?"
Li Ying said no more.
After so many years of depending on each other for survival, he had placed nearly all his familial affection onto Wu Wang.
In his eyes, his uncle Wu Wang was his only support, the only relative in the world he could trust unconditionally.
He had thought Wu Wang felt the same way.
But now, he was beginning to waver.
It seemed Wu Wang didn’t trust him that much. Sometimes, Wu Wang was even wary of him.
Wu Wang let out a long sigh. "You have to believe me. No matter what I do, it’s all for your own good."
Li Ying gave a self-deprecating laugh. "For my own good?"
Wu Wang said with a solemn expression.
"The less you know, the safer you are. Even if the plot is unfortunately exposed in the future, it will all be my fault alone. You won’t be implicated."
Li Ying was slightly taken aback.
’He hadn’t expected his uncle to think that way.’
Wu Wang’s eyes were filled with sorrow, but his tone was incredibly resolute.
"You are the only family I have left in this world. More than anyone, I want you to live a good life.
But I cannot forget your mother’s death.
As her closest kin, we must avenge her.
I am willing to sacrifice everything for that, even my own life."
As he finished, his tone grew heavier and his eyes reddened slightly. He was clearly prepared to sacrifice everything.
Li Ying remembered how his mother had been wasted away to skin and bones when she died, remembered the suffering he and his mother had endured in the palace. New and old hatreds surged in his heart, and he was deeply moved, feeling a pang of shame.
’How could he doubt his uncle?’
’For so many years, his uncle had always been the one looking out for him in secret.’
’Without his uncle, he might have died long ago in some corner of the palace, never even getting the chance to grow up.’
’He could dislike his uncle’s methods, but he couldn’t doubt that his uncle cared for him.’
’It was just as his uncle had said.’
’His uncle was the family he depended on to survive. If he couldn’t even trust his uncle, then there was no one left in the world worthy of his trust.’
Li Ying said in a low voice, "I’m sorry. I misspoke just now. I shouldn’t have doubted you."
Wu Wang stared at him fixedly.
"You haven’t forgotten the oath you once swore, have you?"
Li Ying’s expression turned serious. "Of course not. My mother died after suffering endless torment. I will make all those who harmed her pay with blood, so that my mother may rest in peace in the underworld."
A look of relief appeared on Wu Wang’s face. "It’s good that you haven’t forgotten your original purpose."
After speaking, he frowned, his face twisting in pain.
Li Ying asked hurriedly, "What’s wrong?"
Wu Wang took a deep breath. "It’s nothing. The wound just hurts a little. I just have to bear it."
Li Ying said, "I heard Prince Zhao came to see you today. After he left, your wound reopened. Did he do something to you?"
But Wu Wang gave an unrelated answer. "He’s already started to suspect me."
Li Ying froze.
Wu Wang’s brow was furrowed as he spoke with great worry.
"The reason I used this self-injury ploy was to use the Saint’s protection to temporarily evade Prince Zhao’s investigation.
But you should know, Prince Zhao is an extremely difficult person to deal with.
I can hide for a time, but not forever. In the end, Prince Zhao remains a huge hidden danger for me."
Li Ying was confused. "How could Prince Zhao’s suspicions fall on you? We were so clean about everything and left no clues."
Wu Wang said, "That’s what I can’t figure out either."
’There’s no evidence at all, so how could Prince Zhao pinpoint him so accurately?’
’This whole thing is just too strange.’
Wu Wang suppressed his chaotic thoughts.
"Things have reached this point. There’s no use dwelling on the cause anymore. We need to speed up the process. When necessary, it wouldn’t be out of the question to use some... special measures."
As he spoke the last sentence, he deliberately lowered his voice, lending it a sinister air.
Li Ying’s heart leaped. "Isn’t that too rushed?"
Wu Wang said gravely, "I don’t want to rush either, but if we don’t act quickly, Prince Zhao will make a move against me. We can’t just sit here and wait for our doom."
Li Ying also knew that things had come to this. They had no other choice.
In the end, he could only silently accept his uncle’s decision.
