181 Foiled Plans 3

"That is Lieutenant Wei Xuanran leading them. I would trouble Big Brother Yan to speak to them, and have them prepare a stretcher. We will need it to bring Brother Feng back to the Ducal Palace. And tell them to send a messenger ahead, to get the physicians ready to receive him."

Du Yan chuckled as he moved to do as Li Changhai asked. Leaving the Second Ducal Prince to stand over the unconscious Qin Feng. It was something that was totally against the rules, when it came to protocols that governed the protection of the Ducal Prince, but it was clear from the dark storm clouds lingering over Li Sanlang's face that no one was going try to talk him out of remaining there with his young friend.

Which was just as well, since Li Changhai was certainly not about to brook any interference! Qin Feng had just saved his life! And had fallen unconscious doing so! How could he not take care of his benefactor first!

Not to mention the fact that this was the third time - the third time! Qin Feng had shielded him with his own body! Regardless of whether he had instructions from his maternal grandmother or not, how could he not take care of the young man?!

Li Changhai sighed as he turned to looked down at the unconscious fellow once again. His debt to Qin Feng seemed to be getting heavier and heavier. Even if he ignored the way that the young man had caused his father to change his attitude towards him, just the matter of Qin Feng saving his life that many times was enough to make him feel a little embarrassed.

Little wonder then, that his mother had insisted that he keep the young fellow close by. It seemed her instincts were correct; he had just blocked an assassin for him, hadn't he?

The memory of the assassination attempt made him turn his head then, to glare in the direction of the fellow in black, who was still pinned down by Lin Liushui. The handsome-looking man was holding now-crippled man down while some of the guard contingent were wrapping chains around him. Honestly, Li Sanlang was a little concerned that the same were too thin to hold the black-garbed man. But hopefully, with his acupoints frozen by Lin Liushui's strange martial art, it would be enough to keep him from breaking free until everyone was back at the Ducal Palace.

And there were stronger restraints, as well as more powerful experts, back there. His father, for one, who dearly love to hear more about the attempt. And to find out more about who was behind this debacle.

The Second Ducal Prince's grim smile compressed then, and his lips grew pale from the pressure of that little move. He was curious too, as to who had sent Zhou Jinhu against him. It had to be someone close to his sister - his half-sister! Of that, he was rather certain. After all, Fatty Zhou was supposed to be her personal bodyguard, wasn't he? How could he had shown up here, without her knowledge?

It seems things were far more complicated than what he had imagined. And he was rather certain that this little incident was going to prompt his mother, Feng Xueli, to take steps!

While he was engrossed in his thoughts, his guards had already taken the initiative to encircle him. And the young fellow lying on the ground. Looking up, the Prince saw that Lieutenant Wei was already at his side. But Li Sanlang was surprised to note the lieutenant staring down at the unconscious Qin Feng with a look on his face that mirrored the concern that the Second Ducal Prince was feeling.

"Is ... Is Young Master Qin going to survive? We did not see the fight but ... The injury that he sustained is not going to ... disfigure him, is it?"

Li Sanlang turned back to the young man lying still in front of him, and wondered at the question. He had not thought about that. It would be a bit of a disaster, if Qin Feng took any permanent damage, especially to his face, he conceded with a wince.

"I do not know. We shall need to have the physicians look him over, to ... I do not believe that his cheek bone is broken, so his face ... They should be able to save his looks, along with his life," he replied, after a brief moment.

"That is good. The Duchess had warned us to take good care of him, and that she would make our lives miserable if anything happens to him."

The Second Ducal Prince whirled to face the lieutenant, who still had a rather sheepish look on his face. And who seemed to be expecting the Prince's reaction. Wei Xuanran shrugged and nudged his chin in the direction of the unconscious man, as though conveying a message to Li Changhai:

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"She questioned us thoroughly, two days ago. And she was rather insistent that we ... The Duchess had mentioned her belief that her mother - your maternal grandmother, that is. She believes that her mother sent Young Master Qin to make certain that you got home safely. Well, we had certainly not received any orders to that effect, you understand, Ducal Prince.

"But from what we had seen, and what he had done, during our trip North, it certainly seems to be the case. Doesn't it?"

Li Changhai felt his lips twitching, the moment that he heard the lieutenant's explanation. "I detect a certain ... jealousy, Lieutenant Wei. Are you annoyed that my maternal grandmother took such steps? Or are you pissed that my mother arrived at such a conclusion?"

Lieutenant Wei Xuanran grinned back at him. "Neither, Second Prince. We are - all of us in the troop, I mean. We are more than happy to have him fend off the people that your ... the Duke has added to our number. Since they outrank me, I can hardly make any noise regarding their idiotic training plans. And how they intend to deploy us.

"But ... they did make some ... unhappy noises when they were briefed about what took place during our journey North. And how Young Master Qin had ... insisted on us rushing here at best speed. Against all the standard protocols, you see? Well, after how he had defended you today, no one is going to dismiss his ideas, are they?"

"I will admit that it would be ... extremely unlikely," Li Changhai replied, with a tight but somewhat satisfied smile.

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