Blind and Bereft

Chapter 25 | A Blind Trap

"Jade Dragon Mountain?" Jingrui let her words slip, and she covered her mouth with her palms.

Prince Zhanying was as still as a statue, but the Third Uncle turned to face her. "What is it, little fairy? Interested?" he asked.

Jingrui relaxed, seeing as they weren't mad at her for eavesdropping. She nodded eagerly before scrambling towards Prince Zhanying's side. A vibrant smile bloomed on her face. She grabbed a small portion of his sleeve and tugged on it. Her eyes welled up with pleas. "Your Highness. . ." she began.

"No." Prince Zhanying said, his frigid words froze her smile.

Her face dropped as a frown etched over her face. "Your Highness doesn't even know what I was going to say, how could you say no?"

"Whatever it is, my answer is no."

She shifted her body in discomfort at the Prince's nonchalance. "I just wanted to ask if I could serve you during your trip to the Jade Dragon Mountain. I'm your good maid, and naturally, I should do my job."

"Are you?" he asked before letting out a dry chuckle. "Have you really been a good maid, Bao Bao?"

Jingrui pressed her lips into a thin line, unable to argue.

"Be good and stay at the Palace with Madam Fu," he told her.

Her blood turned into an icy sludge at his words. Prince Zhanying wouldn't take her with him, and that meant she was to be trapped in the abyss cage. She stood up and fumed her way back to Yuansong's side. If Prince Zhanying weren't going to help her, then she would find her own way.

"Your maid seems really desperate to serve you. What a loyal fairy." The Third Uncle gave her an approving look.

"More like a sly, little fairy." Prince Zhanying ran his fingers over the rim of his teacup that had gone cold. "Forget about the irrelevance. I must burden Third Uncle with a task."

The Third Uncle instantly sat up straight, and his expression turned serious. "Whatever it is, if it is within my power, I will try my best."

Prince Zhanying stared off into the distance before chuckling. "The Heavenly Palace is no shelter. It is a coffin that can be shut at any moment. And Third Uncle, within this Palace, only you are willing to be on my side."

Third Uncle waved the air, unable to take the Prince's gratitude. "Don't put it like that, Zhanying. When your mother, Consort Chen, was still alive, she had entrusted you to me. I would never go back on my vow to her." He smiled and patted Zhanying's back. "Brighten up already, long years in the Heavenly Palace had consumed all the light in you. Now, tell me, how can I help you?"

"I must exit the Heavenly Palace without my brother suspecting that I am up to something. He cannot know that I am to regain my sight. If he does, the plan I've shed my blood for all these years will be in vain."

Jingrui didn't understand half of their conversation, but tension stiffened in the air. Prince Zhanying had his fist clenched against the tabletop, and a grim presence dispersed from him.

Third Uncle nodded, his eyes turned calculating. "That's not difficult." With that, the Third Uncle pushed himself to stand. He flew down the steps and landed on the golden silk carpet in front of the high throne.

Emperor Yihuai stood up upon seeing the Third Uncle. "Third Uncle," he greeted him.

The Third Uncle waved at him to skip the formality and grinned. "I've heard that Heavenly Emperor is looking for a present, isn't that so?"

Yihuai lay back down on his throne and nodded. "Indeed, I am. My father, the former Heavenly Emperor's, birthday is coming up, and I want to give him the most lavished present within my Empire's vast scope."

The Third Uncle clasped his hands together. "And that is exactly why your Third Uncle is here. Recently, I have travelled to many different lands, and I've come across a rare and exquisite present. Would my nephew be interested?"

Fascination took over Yihuai's keen eyes. "Yes, I am. What treasure in this vast land could receive your great praise?"

"The Jade Fruit." The Third Uncle smiled, but the corner of his eyes held a hidden scheme. "My brother has always been weak in health. The Jade Fruit which lies at the top of the Jade Dragon Mountain can replenish health and perish bad energy from the body. It is said to be a miracle in itself. Legend says, 'the death flourishes with life, and wilted flowers regain their bloom again.'"

"My, my, Third Uncle never fails to bring forth something promising. Alright then, I will campaign to the Jade Dragon Mountain to retrieve the fruit myself, in order to show my filial piety to my father."

The Third Uncle nodded as he rubbed his hand on his chin, thinking hard. "But . . . you see, the Jade Dragon Mountain is filled with inauspicious energy as it lies at the gate of hell. There are evil forces lurking in every corner of the mountain, and perilous ancient guardians protecting the enchanted forest. Moreover, the mountain is the property of the Phantom Sect who have refused to pledge allegiance to us for many millennia now."

Yihuai's determination tarnished, and he fell silent, making every guest at the hall cease their chattering.

The Third Uncle, seeing the rising tension, waved the air to clear it. "That's why Your Majesty shouldn't campaign there yourself. You must preserve yourself for the sake of the stability of the three realms. I think you should send someone close to you who holds invincible strengths and is someone Your Majesty wouldn't be worried about if they were to . . . walk straight to Hell."

His words seemed to hint enough, and colour returned to Yihuai's face. He laughed and nodded. "Very wise, Third Uncle, very wise." He pretended to fall into deep thought, scanning his eyes around the guests to see the potential subject. "There is actually only one person I can think of . . . the God of War should go. He is the only one I can trust to go, doesn't everyone here today agree?"

Everyone murmured amongst themselves and nodded in agreement.

"That settles it then. My brother shall campaign to the Jade Dragon Mountain to bring me back the Jade Fruit."

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