The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Chapter 492

Dongfang Wan'er was frantic with worry, her anxiety burning like a raging fire. She paced back and forth in her room, a thought suddenly flashing through her mind: she had heard of snow lotuses growing deep within the snow-capped mountains. This idea took root in her heart. Thus, disregarding everyone's earnest advice, she resolutely embarked on her journey to find the snow lotus.

The snow-capped mountains soared into the clouds, their peaks covered in perpetual snow, resembling a silver giant exuding a cold and majestic aura. Dongfang Wan'er, dressed in heavy cotton clothes and carrying a simple pack, trudged through the snow-covered mountains with great difficulty. The howling wind, like the roar of a ferocious beast, nearly made her lose her footing. Every step required immense effort; the snow beneath her feet was knee-deep, and each lift of her foot felt like carrying a thousand pounds.

Time passed slowly, and her hands and feet had long since lost all feeling, numb and unable to feel any pain. The cold wind lashed her face like knives, turning her skin red and even causing some areas to crack. But she had only one unwavering thought in her mind: to save Ye Jiuchen. This thought sustained her, allowing her to move forward step by step in this icy wilderness, never considering giving up.

She walked for an unknown amount of time, and just as her strength was about to be exhausted, a sudden light appeared before her eyes at the edge of a steep cliff. Against the backdrop of pristine white snow, a blooming snow lotus stood proudly. The snow lotus was as white as jade, its petals swaying gently in the cold wind, radiating a mysterious and sacred light. Dongfang Wan'er felt a surge of joy; all her fatigue and cold seemed to vanish instantly. She cautiously approached the cliff edge, the snow beneath her feet shifting, nearly causing her to slip several times. But she did not back down; with all her might, she finally plucked the precious snow lotus. She clutched the snow lotus tightly, as if holding onto Ye Jiuchen's hope for life, and carrying this hope, she hurriedly returned to the palace.

Dongfang Wan'er was frantic. Her feet seemed to fly, and she raced through the corridors of the palace towards Ye Jiuchen's room. Her skirt whistled in the wind, and her hair was disheveled, but she paid no heed. At that moment, her eyes were fixed on Ye Jiuchen's tightly closed door, and her mind held only one thought: Hurry, hurry, I must get Ye Jiuchen to take the medicine made from the snow lotus as soon as possible.

When she finally pushed open the door, panting, her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and a few strands of hair, damp with perspiration, clung to her cheeks. The doctor, who had been waiting for some time, saw the precious snow lotus in Dongfang Wan'er's hand, and his eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen the dawn in the darkness. He quickly reached out and took the snow lotus, his movements gentle yet urgent, and swiftly began preparing to decoct the medicine.

The room quickly filled with a rich medicinal fragrance, a hopeful aura that slowly dissipated in the air. Dongfang Wan'er stood guard by Ye Jiuchen's bedside, tightly holding his bloodless hand, as if she could transfer her strength to him in doing so. Her eyes were full of expectation, her gaze fixed on Ye Jiuchen's pale face, as if afraid to miss any subtle change in him.

Time passed slowly in anxious waiting, each second feeling incredibly long. Finally, the medicine was ready. Dongfang Wan'er took the bowl, sat by the bed, gently lifted Ye Jiuchen's head, and carefully poured the medicine into his mouth with a spoon. A few drops of the medicine dripped from the corners of Ye Jiuchen's mouth, and Dongfang Wan'er, seeing this, tenderly wiped them away with a handkerchief.

Before long, a miracle seemed to happen. Ye Jiuchen's previously bloodless pale face gradually regained a faint blush, and his previously rapid and weak breathing became more even. Dongfang Wan'er's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed a little. Her eyes reddened slightly, but she couldn't help but smile with relief.

However, fate seemed determined not to grant them peace. Just when everyone thought Ye Jiuchen's condition would gradually improve and the Prince's mansion would return to its former tranquility, a commotion shattered this brief peace. The guards of the Prince's mansion shouted loudly, and the sounds of clashing weapons echoed continuously. Dongfang Wan'er was startled, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

As expected, a group of men in black stormed into the palace like ghosts. They were agile and efficient, each with their face covered by a black cloth, revealing only pairs of cold and fierce eyes. Without hesitation, these men in black headed straight for the room where Ye Jiuchen was.

Hearing the commotion, Dongfang Wan'er quickly rose and unhesitatingly shielded Ye Jiuchen. Her eyes were resolute, and the soft sword in her hand gleamed coldly in the candlelight, like the sharpest star in the night sky. At this moment, she was no longer the weak woman she once was; to protect Ye Jiuchen, her heart was filled with courage and strength.

The people of the Prince's mansion also took up arms and engaged in fierce combat with the men in black. Shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons mingled together, echoing in every corner of the mansion. The guards fought valiantly, their clothes soaked with sweat and the ground stained red with blood, but not one of them retreated.

Amidst this chaotic situation, a sense of doubt and worry arose in Dongfang Wan'er's heart. Who exactly were these men in black? Why were they targeting Ye Jiuchen repeatedly? What conspiracy lay behind this? She knew that the outcome of this battle not only concerned her and Ye Jiuchen's lives but could also uncover a series of unknown secrets. Whether they could once again be fortunate enough to protect each other and successfully unravel the conspiracy remained to be seen.

Dongfang Wan'er was intently pondering the conspiracy behind the men in black, a hint of seriousness in her eyes. Just as her thoughts were racing, a lithe man in black seized the moment of her distraction, like a cheetah poised to pounce, and suddenly thrust his sword at her. The sharp tip of the sword gleamed coldly in the dim light, its blade cutting through the air with deadly force, aimed directly at Dongfang Wan'er's vitals.

Dongfang Wan'er reacted swiftly, her beautiful eyes narrowing as she gracefully sidestepped the longsword that lashed out like a venomous snake, grazing her clothes. At the same time, her soft sword, like a nimble white serpent, retaliated, engaging the man in black in a fierce battle. The two figures moved rapidly through the room, their swords flashing, the sounds of clashing weapons echoing incessantly.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light streaked from the side, moving with lightning speed—a hidden weapon aimed directly at Ye Jiuchen, who was still lying in bed, not yet fully recovered. In this critical, life-or-death moment, an aged yet resolute figure shot out like an arrow, unhesitatingly shielding Ye Jiuchen. Everyone looked closely and recognized him as the old steward of the Prince's mansion. Usually so kind and amiable, his face was now filled with unwavering determination; he was willing to risk his life to protect his young master.

The hidden weapon struck the old butler heavily in the shoulder. He groaned and swayed, but with unwavering willpower, he still protected Ye Jiuchen. Blood gushed from his shoulder, instantly staining his clothes red, a shocking sight in the dim light.

Seeing this, Dongfang Wan'er was frantic with worry and anger, burning like a raging fire. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes revealed an unprecedented ruthlessness as she fought even more fiercely. The soft sword in her hand moved with impenetrable skill, each move carrying a sharp offensive, aiming straight for the black-clad man's vitals. She was determined to avenge the old steward and protect Ye Jiuchen.

Just as the battle reached its climax, a rapid, dense sound of hooves suddenly came from outside the Prince's mansion, growing clearer and clearer as it approached. It turned out that Ye Jiuchen's trusted generals, having received the news, had led reinforcements to the palace without stopping. These reinforcements were all strong and robust, wielding sharp weapons, and their morale was high. They surged into the Prince's mansion like a flood, instantly joining the battle.

Seeing the situation was dire, a flicker of panic crossed the men in black's previously fierce eyes. Faced with the surging reinforcements, they began to retreat steadily, their previous arrogance completely gone. The battle quickly drew to a close, and the men in black, caught between the Prince's men and the reinforcements, fled in disarray.

After the battle, the entire palace was a scene of devastation, the ground littered with blood and scattered weapons. Dongfang Wan'er, barely catching her breath, rushed to the old steward's side to check his injuries. She carefully helped him loosen his clothes, examining his wounds with concern in her eyes. Fortunately, the hidden weapon hadn't hit any vital organs, and after simple bandaging, he was fine. Dongfang Wan'er finally breathed a sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from her heart.

Then, she quickly walked to Ye Jiuchen's bedside. Seeing that his complexion was alright and his breathing was steady, her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and she felt a little relieved.

At this moment, the trusted general hurried over to report. He knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "Miss, the identities of these men in black have not yet been determined, but judging from the hidden weapons they use and their unique moves, they seem to be related to a mysterious organization in the martial arts world. This organization acts in secrecy and rarely appears in the martial arts world, but every time they do, it is accompanied by bloodshed."

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Dongfang Wan'er's eyes. She secretly vowed to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the mastermind behind it all to justice. Even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns and danger, she would never back down. She was determined to restore peace to Ye Jiuchen, allowing him to recover in peace without any further threats.