The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 243 Poisoning Outbreak

Outside the exquisite bedchamber, the island's maidservants hurriedly left with a basin of water. The strong smell of blood made Yin Quan feel uncomfortable. If one did not know the inside story, they would definitely think that a child was being born inside.

Qiongji rushed back from outside, covered in dust. She was furious when she saw the scene inside. But before she could touch Yin Quan’s collar, Gu Lounan grabbed her hands. Qiongji’s eyes were bloodshot. “I agreed to your request because all I want is Mingyue. But if anything happens to her, don’t blame me for breaking the contract. None of you will be able to escape from the Qionghai Gang.”

Xiahou Ying showed no fear whatsoever. His cherry-like lips parted slightly, "You can try. Let's see if your Qionghai Gang dies a more gruesome death, or if we die a more gruesome death." Qiongji angrily slapped out a palm. Gu Lounan hurriedly picked up Yin Quan and flew to the side. Xiahou Ying casually waved his hand, forcing Qiongji back.

After landing, Qiongji couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Xiahou Ying in disbelief, "You...when did you recover your strength?"

Xiahou Ying remained silent, while Gu Lounan, watching the spectacle with amusement, said, "Isn't it a bit too late to say this now? If you don't go in and check on your little beauty, she might just die."

Qiongji, no longer able to linger with Xiahou Ying, hurriedly flew into the inner room. At this moment, Mingyue's power had been broken, and wrinkles had appeared on her smooth face. Qiongji held Mingyue's hand with heartache, "Mingyue, don't worry, you will definitely be alright. Someone, bring Mingri up here." The twin maids were so anxious that they were almost in tears, "Mr. Qiong, you must save the island lord."

When Mingri was brought up, he was already on the verge of death. Qiongji took Mingri from her and said, "You can all go down. No one is allowed to come in without my permission."

The twins hesitated, but Qiongji snapped, "Are you going to leave now or do you want to watch the island lord die?" The twins had no choice but to leave with the frightened man.

Seeing that Qiongji hadn't made a sound for half an hour after entering, Yin Quan asked curiously, "Xiahou Ying, what did you mean by what you just said? Do you have a way to escape?" Xiahou Ying said somewhat awkwardly, "Ah Quan, listen to me. Although I have a way to escape, it's not the right time yet. The Qionghai Gang's attempt to establish its own state has seriously threatened the order of our country."

Yin Quan said with a forced smile, "Xiahou Ying, aren't you getting bolder and bolder? If you don't confess honestly, believe me, I'll... I'll..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yin Quan felt a sharp pain in her heart and a sweet taste in her throat.

"Ah Quan! Ah Quan, what's wrong?"

Yin Quan felt as if a thousand knives were scraping her heart, the pain was unbearable, "Xiahou Ying... save me!"

For the first time, Xiahou Ying, who seemed to have the world in his grasp, showed a helpless expression. Looking at the red plum blossoms blooming on his body, he panicked for the first time. He had already lost her once, and he could not lose her again.

“It’s Mingyue’s poison… We can’t let her die…” Yin Quan’s words made Xiahou Ying grit his teeth. “This damned woman still doesn’t trust us. She’s so despicable. I will never forgive her.”

Gu Lounan hurriedly said, "Now is not the time to talk about these things, we must save Mingyue."

Before Xiahou Ying and Gu Lounan could rush in, Qiongji had already stumbled out from inside.

His once jet-black hair had turned silver. In his hazy state, Yin Quan seemed to see an old man. Gu Lounan grabbed him by the collar and asked, "Where is that old woman, Mingyue?"

Qiongji collapsed to the ground, her body limp, and laughed loudly, "You've been plotting all along to kill us, haven't you? Now that you've achieved your goal, I'm about to die. I only beg you to spare Mingyue; she's innocent."

Xiahou Ying's eyes flashed with cold light. "Innocent? Don't you know how many people have died at her hands? The court has been turning a blind eye to you, but now you not only refuse to pay taxes, but also dare to declare yourselves kings. You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

Qiongji was not angry. "We, the Qionghai Gang, are all people abandoned by the world. But the one who forced us to this point was none other than your most respected father! He knows best what crimes he committed back then. It's pitiful that you don't know the truth and even aided and abetted evil. How pathetic!"

Although Yin Quan was in so much pain that she was somewhat delirious, she still vaguely heard what Qiongji was saying. What was the truth that Qiongji was talking about?

Xiahou Ying's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he grabbed Qiongji by the throat. "Take some things to the King of Hell."

Xiahou Ying exerted force, and the sound of a sharp weapon cutting through the air rang out. Xiahou Ying felt a pain in his wrist and had to release his grip on Qiongji. Mingyue's sleeves rolled up and pulled Qiongji into her arms. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her gaze towards Yin Quan and the others was full of hatred.

"So this is Prince Duan! I really underestimated you. You risked your life at sea just to gain my trust. I suppose you were the one who slaughtered my Third Master's entire courtyard. I truly regret bringing you here."

Gu Lounan chuckled wickedly. "I'm afraid it's too late now. Doesn't the island lord know that it's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away? However, if you're willing to obey, Prince Duan and I will still keep our promise and let you and Qiongji go after it's done. At that time, you'll probably thank us from the ends of the earth."

Mingyue looked at Qiongji in disbelief, "You...you were involved in their plan too? Qiongji, you're pushing me to my death!" Qiongji gripped Mingyue's hand tightly, "It's all worth it for you. We've been bound by our mission for too long. Mingyue, listen to them..."

Mingyue looked up at Yin Quan, "Perhaps we haven't reached the end of our rope yet. Doesn't Prince Duan want to cure Princess Duan of the poison?" Yin Quan was taken aback, "You know my identity?" Mingyue smiled charmingly, "How many people in the world have the surname Yin and can receive such favor from our Prince Duan?"

Mingyue smoothed her long hair by her temples. "However... ever since Princess Duan stepped into Qionghai, I have prepared a great gift for her. You have heard of Qiu Haishuang, Princess Duan, right? There is no cure in the world except for the antidote made from Mingyue's blood essence. If I die, the princess will probably have to be buried with me."

Although Yin Quan didn't know what Qiu Haishuang was, the feeling of being poisoned was indeed unbearable. Xiahou Ying's reaction was unusually intense, as if he wished he could get rid of her as soon as possible.

"If it weren't for your feelings for Qiongji, Mingyue, believe me, I would have killed you long ago. Hand over the antidote now and I might spare your life. Otherwise, I'll make sure you and Qiongji can't live or die."

"What can we do? Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well take Princess Duan with us." With that, he threw his head back and laughed wildly. The veins on Xiahou Ying's forehead bulged, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

His robes fluttered without wind, carrying an aura of death that swept over Mingyue. Gu Lounan and Qiongji shouted in unison, "Prince Duan, don't!"

Mingyue showed no fear of death, and Yin Quan even saw a hint of relief in her eyes. Qiongji used her last strength to stand in front of Mingyue, and Mingyue's expression immediately changed. "Xiahou Ying, if you dare to kill Qiongji, I will die with Yin Quan!"

The sharp palm wind stopped half a meter in front of Qiongji's face, and everyone gasped. Qiongji's silver mask cracked with a snap, exposing her beautiful face to the sunlight.

Yin Quan frowned and said weakly, "Xiahou Ying, don't kill them."

Mingyue hurriedly hugged Qiongji, "Are you alright? Qiongji, why were you so foolish? My death is nothing to regret, but you... even for the sake of everyone on the island, you shouldn't have gone to your death."

Gu Lounan stood in the middle, grinning like a fox. "Since things have escalated to this point, why don't we all take a step back and discuss it?"

Mingyue and Yin Quan looked up in confusion. Gu Lounan continued, "In three days, it will be the Qionghai Gang's once-every-three-years gathering. This year, I've heard that there are quite a few people challenging the island lord, including some with outstanding abilities. If Island Lord Ming is willing to cure Xiao Quan Quan's poison, the two of us will help the island lord and Qiongji escape from the Qionghai Gang safely. From then on, you two can live a life of blissful incense and anonymity."

Mingyue's eyes flashed. For the sake of her own life, Yin Quan hurriedly said, "Island Lord, this is the only way to help you get out of here. Do you really intend to abide by the damned island rules and watch your beloved spend her life with someone else?" Yin Quan's words seemed to touch Mingyue. As a woman herself, Yin Quan knew very well what Mingyue cared about.

After thinking for a long time, Mingyue made up her mind and said, "I have one more condition: spare the lives of everyone on the island."

Xiahou Ying calmed down and said coldly, "After the Qionghai Gang is pacified, all gang members will be conscripted into the public service and will be released after serving three years." Qiongji looked at Mingyue expectantly, after all, this was his lifelong wish.

Mingyue's expression finally softened slightly. "Someone take Qiongji away to rest. The three of you come with me to the study."

With a flick of her two fingers, Mingyue sent a translucent white pill into Xiahou Ying's hand. After Yin Quan swallowed it, the pain immediately subsided, and the tightness in her chest also disappeared. Yin Quan breathed a long sigh of relief.

Xiahou Ying lifted Yin Quan up in his arms and gently kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't protect you well enough."

Xiahou Ying's remorseful expression made Yin Quan feel a pang of heartache. "Never mind, I forgive you. Anyway, I was lucky to survive."

Xiahou Ying frowned, not understanding the meaning of Yin Quan's words. Yin Quan touched her nose, having not revealed her secret many times before, and now she was even more at a loss for words. "Go and see what that old woman is saying."

Xiahou Ying nodded, and after the three of them entered the study, Mingyue raised her hands and the door closed automatically. Mingyue's gaze toward Yin Quan remained somewhat unfriendly, and Yin Quan, who had come back to life, glared back defiantly.

"Are you out of your mind? We're helping you right now, and you're not even grateful. I haven't even complained about how you've been mistreating me for so many days, so why are you so upset?" Yin Quan's words drew a low chuckle from Gu Lounan. Sure enough, his little Quan Quan always said something surprising.

Mingyue glanced at her, seemingly unwilling to stoop to her level.

"To be honest, I'm not happy to be the island lord. The identities of the island lords of our Qionghai Gang have always been very special. We are descendants of the Shi Yi ethnic group, and the candidates for each generation are a pair of twins. And our generation happens to be me and my sister Mingri."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying and Gu Lounan of the Shi Yi tribe exchanged a glance, both seemingly incredulous. "It's rumored that the Shi Yi tribe perished in a fire a hundred years ago." Mingyue's gaze was distant, her eyes burning with hatred.