Chapter 61

It was already late at night. Prime Minister Zhang Huaian’s residence still appeared brightly lit from the outside, with faint voices that were indistinct.

Zhang Huaian tapped the rim of the porcelain cup intermittently, dissipating the rising heat, and slowly spoke.

“Li Zhi, did Qin Yan discover our infiltrator?”

“My lord,” replied Li Zhi, furrowing his brow as he sat at the lower end, “it was unfortunate. Who could have known that a mountain tiger slipped in through that loophole? It’s surprising he even encountered him, but why didn’t he kill him?”

Zhang Huaian snorted, “Ye Qing grew up in the martial world. He has raised him by his side since he was young and taught him martial arts. How could a mere mountain tiger injure him?”

Li Zhi himself came from a prestigious military family and had some martial skills. Naturally, he didn’t hold much trust in eunuchs like Qin Yan. However, since Zhang Huaian had spoken, he didn’t have much more to say.

Zhang Huaian forcefully placed the tea cup on the wooden table. “Is everything arranged for tomorrow?”

“Report, my lord. It’s all arranged. They are all elite soldiers, just like before. Even if it fails, there won’t be any evidence left.”

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“Qsse. Uasod Vakdnl Ck okzz yzps cl kd vbl qasdv aso vsxsaaso. Jl nyalqwz yde nywvkswp. Ps dsv byax Vakdnl Ck.”

“Yu zsae, alpv yppwale. R wdelapvyde.”

…

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Oxrlasa Hbw Kkdtuw pyv clbkde vbl ulzzso rlya eaytsd-blye nbyka okvb bkp lulp nzsple. Xd vbl vyczl oyp y csoz sq xleknkdyz vly vbyv oyp wpwyzzu rzynle vblal.

Brsd blyakdt psxlsdl yrrasynbkdt, bl srldle bkp lulp yde zssjle yv Nkdt Gd okvbswv y akrrzl kd bkp tygl.

“Mblu oydv vs jkzz xl ytykd, esd’v vblu?”

Wynkdt Hbw Kkdtuw, Nkdt Gd alxykdle lmralppksdzlpp, bla hsknl elhske sq oyaxvb.

“Your Majesty, the chief will assign someone to guard by your side. During tomorrow’s rewards ceremony on the high platform, I implore Your Majesty not to move beyond a five-foot radius from the desk.”

Zhu Jingyu glanced at the untouched bowl of medicine, feeling a chill. His hands were empty, and he suddenly missed the little young lynx with its soft and warm belly full of life.

“Do you think I will die?”

“No, you won’t.”

Zhu Jingyu chuckled, “Because Qin Yan said so.”

Without any hesitation, Ling An replied, “Yes.”

Before Zhu Jingyu lifted the medicinal bowl, he whispered softly, as if not wanting anyone to hear,

“Ling An, I envy you.”

***

Except for the first day when they arrived at Longhu Mountain, the weather had been mostly cloudy. Occasional light rain fell intermittently, wetting the ground and forming several puddles.

Su Mi’s encounter with the mountain tiger was just a momentary fright, and her body had suffered no major harm. However, following Qin Yan’s orders, she forced herself to stay in bed for two more days. By the time she was allowed to get up, it was the final day to get on the carriage and return to the chief’s mansion.

In the central area of the surrounding field, the emperor was bestowing rewards as part of the hunt, which was meant for entertainment. People didn’t have much desire for victory or defeat, and expressions of gratitude and cheers constantly echoed in from outside, making it livelier than the first day.

“Lord, can I go out and have a look too?” Su Mi asked eagerly.

“You stay here. Wait for me directly on the carriage with Feng Bao later,” Qin Yan said with his back turned to Su Mi, looking outside the window.

His figure was tall and straight, casting a shadow that blocked the sunlight entering through the window.

As he had his back turned, Su Mi couldn’t see Qin Yan’s expression clearly. But it seemed that he had become busy again in these two days, so she naturally wanted to ask him directly when she finally got to see him.

Su Mi spoke up: “Lord, have you been to Ganquan Mountain in Jiangling City?”

Qin Yan turned his head to look at Su Mi and replied, “Yes, why?”

“I.. I just wanted to ask if you also killed a mountain tiger in those woods when you passed by that place.”

“If I did, so what?” Many years ago, he probably killed one, blocking his path and scaring his horse. If he had to kill it, he would kill it.

Qin Yan seemed to say it casually, and in Su Mi’s heart, it bloomed like a flower. She knew she hadn’t remembered wrong; it was Qin Yan who had saved her!

“Lord, perhaps the people you saved have always wanted to find you,” Su Mi said, feeling a bit embarrassed with girlish thoughts as she lowered her head.

Qin Yan furrowed his brow upon hearing her words. “When did I save someone?”

Su Mi looked up at Qin Yan, and in that moment, she suddenly understood. In the deep of that night, hiding behind tall grass, perhaps Qin Yan never even saw her from beginning to end. He must have killed the mountain tiger as he passed by, coincidentally saving her life.

It had happened more than once. Every time he saved her, it seemed unintentional. But wasn’t this a sign of fate between her and the Lord? After all, he had saved her, and there was no need for unnecessary entanglement.

Right, there was also that sign from Lingquan Temple. Su Mi felt extremely happy just thinking about all of this. It was as if it were saying that her connection with Qin Yan was destined by fate!

“Lord, when are we going back home?” Su Mi had no interest in the bustling scene outside. She only wanted to go back to the Lord and be better to him in the future.

Qin Yan didn’t know what Su Mi had been thinking in those few moments, but after asking these questions, she foolishly smiled.

But when he heard the words “go back home,” the corners of Qin Yan’s mouth slightly lifted. “In another hour.”

“Yes!”

A knock on the door sounded from outside. It was Ling An.

“Master, everything is prepared for defense.”

Qin Yan looked out the window, gazing at the distant bright yellow figure, then walked out of the door towards Ling An.

“Take her to the carriage. No one is allowed to get close.”

Ling An frowned for the first time but still replied, “Yes, Lord.”

***

At the end of every year’s spring hunt, it was always like this: finding an excuse to give rewards to the people, a display of the emperor’s benevolence.

Zhu Jingyu stood on the high platform with a gentle expression, facing the courtiers. Though his illness remained evident, his bright yellow imperial robe and his noble bearing made it hard to ignore.

By the side of the young Prince Qi was Zhang Yue’er, standing not far from the high platform. Since the emperor had already seen the Eggheart, Zhang Yue’er was afraid it might run off again, so she held it directly.

From here, Zhang Yue’er felt that the emperor seemed to overlap with the person she had seen during the selection, but at the same time, he was completely different from that night. When she saw him now, she could remember the wounded expression in his eyes, which made her feel indescribably uncomfortable.

Zhang Yue’er lowered her head and touched the fluffy head of the egg-heart. “What does he look like when he’s facing you?”

The egg-heart lifted its head and made a sound, “Peek~”

“You mean—”

Two words stuck in Zhang Yue’er’s throat, and her smile froze on her face. In her ears and mind, there was a sudden sound of whooshing arrows. Everyone stood still for a moment and instinctively looked behind them.

From the distant mountains and countless small hills, a hundred arrows emerged from the dark abyss, shooting straight toward the central high platform.

The entire arena erupted into panic and chaos. Courtiers, relatives, palace maids, and eunuchs scattered in all directions. In the face of life and death, there was no distinction of rank. Everyone just wanted to survive.

“Assassins! Protect, protect the emperor!” shouted the urgent voice of the emperor’s personal eunuch.

Zhang Yue’er stood frozen on the spot, and her first instinct was to look back at Zhu Jingyu on the high platform. The arrows were clearly aimed at him. What should he do? But she didn’t have time to think as her leg suddenly felt a sharp pain.

“Get down,” whispered the young Prince Qi. “Stay with me.”

Caught off guard, Zhang Yue’er was pulled down to the ground while holding the Eggheart. Her elbow hit the ground, causing it to bleed. She awkwardly said, “Thank you, Prince Qi,” but her gaze couldn’t help but still look towards the high platform.

Looking up from below, the dark row of Imperial Guards and Jinyiwei Guards became a human wall blocking the emperor in front. She couldn’t see anything, but it actually brought a sense of calm to her heart. The scared Eggheart burrowed into her embrace, and Zhang Yue’er held it tighter.

“I’m sorry.”

Zhang Yue’er faintly heard the passing voice of Prince Qi by her side. When she turned her head, his lips didn’t move. Perhaps it was her imagination.

On the high platform, Lu Dehai’s legs had been trembling since he first saw the hundred arrows. He kept repeating the words “protect the emperor,” but in reality, there was only a bare space in front of him.

Sufficient guards had already appeared in front of Zhu Jingyu before the arrows were shot. Zhu Jingyu stood on the high platform, his eyes hollow as he looked at the row of red arrows in front of him. It was as if a wall of flames separated him from the rest, just as Ling An had said—he would not die.

All the arrows were aimed at him, and then they all deflected away. As long as he stood safely behind these people, when the assassins captured by Qin Yan’s men in the mountains were caught, the assassination would be over. Then he could continue living as if nothing had changed, just like countless times before.

Suddenly, Zhu Jingyu caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. One of the arrows seemed to deviate from the center and be aimed in Lu Dehai’s direction.

Lu Dehai had long been terrified and unable to move. He watched as the arrowhead approached, but he couldn’t take a single step. He felt panicked; he was going to die. It was certain; he was really going to die.

At that moment, he felt a sudden push on his left arm. Before being pushed down, Lu Dehai instinctively turned his head to see who it was.

It was the emperor!

His face was as pale and handsome as ever, and the smile on his lips resembled that of a young boy. Lu Dehai froze. The emperor was saving him, but at the same time, he was seeking death.

“Your Majesty!”

Zhu Jingyu broke free from the barrier of the front guards. His movement was too sudden, and all the guards were focused on the direction of the arrows. They couldn’t see the emperor slipping out behind them. By the time they heard the eunuch’s loud shout, it was already too late for them to catch up.

The arrow swiftly approached, and Zhu Jingyu slowly closed his eyes.

With a light hiss, he heard the arrowhead piercing through his outer robe, a sharp pain entering his chest.

It wasn’t really that painful. It was almost over; the release was near. Zhu Jingyu suddenly wanted to laugh recklessly. He was dying, and Ah Yan should be relieved of some of his burden.

However, the arrowhead abruptly stopped just an inch before piercing his chest, forcibly halting in its path.

Zhu Jingyu abruptly opened his eyes, met by Qin Yan’s icy gaze looming close.

“What are you doing?”

Qin Yan tightly grasped the long arrow, its shaft stained with blood that had been scraped off. He fiercely pulled it back.

Zhu Jingyu groaned as the arrow was pulled out of his chest. A drop of blood, then another, fell into a puddle of water. The arrowhead drooped, and the blood on the shaft slid down as well, drop by drop.

Unseen by anyone, in the puddle of water, so many drops of blood, after swirling a few times, merged together.