Chapter 99: From the Sky

Chapter 99

As soon as the door opened, Yuwen Hao felt his scalp tingle.

More than twenty vicious dogs with bodies covered in scars snarled ferociously at him, on guard, full of hatred. Their eyes were bloodshot, as if ready to pounce and tear him apart if he moved an inch.

Marquis of Huiding coldly said, "Prince, don't you dare go in?"

"Your Highness, you must not!" Tang Yang quickly advised. He was no dog trainer, but judging from the wounds on these vicious dogs, they must have just been brutally beaten and were now in a violent mood.

Yuwen Hao gathered his nerves and tried to leap over the dogs, but he didn't expect the marquis' attendant to gesture to the dogs, who immediately went mad and rushed forward, jumping up to surround Yuwen Hao. He couldn't get close to the inner chambers at all.

He jumped around a few times, his sleeves and clothes already torn from biting, barely escaping with his flesh intact thanks to his quick reflexes.

"Be careful, Your Highness!" Tang Yang suddenly shouted to warn him.

Yuwen Hao quickly turned back, only to see a short-tailed, pointy-eared vicious dog had actually jumped up, its body tracing an arc in midair as it charged at Yuwen Hao's back like lightning.

Yuwen Hao hurriedly dodged to the side, but the dog's paw still managed to slash his nape, leaving several bloody marks.

The royal guards and Tang Yang wanted to rush in, but Marquis of Huiding barred their way. "Stop. No one is allowed in this courtyard without my permission."

Tang Yang saw the marquis' attendant continuously gesturing and whistling, while also making whooping sounds - the attack cue.

Tang Yang was furious. "Marquis, you're deliberately trying to injure him!"

"Deliberate injury? I already warned the prince not to enter, yet he insisted on going in." The marquis haughtily replied.

Tang Yang gnashed his teeth as he watched Yuwen Hao's increasingly dangerous plight. Though with the prince's agility he could still escape, that would make it impossible to search the place.

Things had already come to this, if they couldn't find the princess today, it would still be a major crime. Might as well take this final gamble.

In a deep voice he ordered, "Men, charge in. Search only the rooms, do not harm the dogs, and be quick about it."

Injuring the dogs would only drive them into more of a crazed frenzy. Unless all the dogs were killed, even if there was but one dog barely clinging to life, it would still bite back in vengeance.

Moreover, forcing their way into the marquis' estate, killing all the guard dogs yet finding nothing, there would be no way to wash themselves clean of this.

The arrogant smile left the marquis' face, his gaze ominous. With a wave he commanded, "Prepare the horses. Summon the Prime Minister. I shall take His Highness the Prince to see His Majesty and discuss this matter."

Tang Yang's face was pale as he came forward. "Your Highness..."

Yuwen Hao coldly ordered, "Withdraw all troops!"

Tang Yang stood dumbfounded. Everything that had happened in the marquis' estate was like a bolt from the blue. The prince's comeback had been but a fleeting firework, instantly scattered into nothingness.

The royal guard was also at a loss, lamenting his own misfortune. Stealing confidential documents was a crime - if this were pursued, everyone present today would be implicated.

The garrison troops and royal guards filed out silently.

The marquis was unspeakably elated. He had choked back this anger for years. If not for the Prime Minister blocking him before, he would have dealt with Prince Chu long ago, instead of allowing him to strut about until today.

But now, it was just perfect. He, Yuwen Hao, thought he had ascended the peak once more, at the height of glory. Knocking him down now would shatter him all the more thoroughly.

The marquis laughed twistedly, his eyes flashing with sinister, venomous light like a viper's.

Yuwen Hao suddenly turned back. Things had already come to this, he might as well vent some anger first.

Before the marquis could react, he unleashed a lightning-fast punch squarely on his nose. He followed with a backhand hook to the temple. The marquis only felt the world spinning as he nearly lost his footing.

The guards and attendants rushed to support him, glaring furiously at Yuwen Hao.

Half of Yuwen Hao's resentment dissipated. His brow rose as he quipped, "The honorable marquis, be careful in the future since you're in such an esteemed position. No telling when some destitute prince might strike a fatal blow."

The marquis spat out a mouthful of blood, gazing fiercely at Yuwen Hao as if wanting to flay him alive this instant. "Don't worry, I'll remember this clearly, and collect both punches back in full with interest."

Yuwen Hao gave a cold laugh and turned away. But from the corner of his eye, he seemed to glimpse someone sprinting over from the back of the courtyard...

"Save me, Your Highness, save me!" The figure was shouting in panic as she ran over. From a distance he could already see her face and hair caked with blood and dirt, her clothes tattered in many places, dressed as a man but with a woman's voice.

In that moment, Yuwen Hao felt his entire body's blood instantly start boiling. He stood stock still, his heart slowly settling back into place.

Never in his life had Tang Yang lost composure like now. He cried out at the top of his lungs, "The Princess, it's the Princess!"