Like a phantom, she flitted and dodged.
She passed countless palace guards without being detected by anyone.
Finally, she reached the palace of Prince Jin.
Observing the guards and palace staff surrounding the area, the intruder merely curled her lips.
She ignored them all, slipping in silently.
The moment she appeared by the bedside, Zhan Tianye, lying on the bed, sat up abruptly.
With a swift grab,
he caught the intruder's slender wrist.
In the next instant, Zhan Tianye had her pinned beneath him.
He lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on her with profound intensity.
His voice, slightly hoarse, asked, "Are you injured?"
Upon learning she was cornered by Princess Ningde, he was about to charge out of the palace when he suddenly received a message: she had escaped safely, instructing him not to worry, and that she would find a way to enter the palace tonight.
He had been waiting until now.
Finally, she had arrived.
Yun Shu's eyes curved, her long eyelashes fluttering. "I'm fine, don't worry."
"Princess Ningde deserves to die," Zhan Tianye's cold eyes glinted with intense killing intent. "It's time for this to end."
Yun Shu nodded. "Indeed, it's time for it to end."
The truth was clear, and he had regained his memory.
Therefore, there was no need to waste more time. She didn't genuinely care for the Western Xia Kingdom; the world was vast, and they could explore it together.
There was no point in wasting too much time here.
"They will undoubtedly make a move in the next few days," Zhan Tianye, like a hunter in the deep night, saw through the intentions of those harboring ill will in the darkness.
Every step seemed to be visible to him.
The two exchanged a knowing smile.
Zhan Tianye gently caressed Yun Shu's cheek. "This time, we will leave here together."
"Good."
...
Under the same moonlight, some also found no peace.
Yun Shu returned to the General's residence unharmed. The news, when it reached Li De, also reached the Emperor.
Both were furious.
Li De even locked himself in his study and did not emerge for a long time, even discarding the dinner his wife had sent in.
The Emperor, who had been bedridden all day and troubled by the recurrence of an old injury,
was aggravated by the sudden news, his anger escalating.
"Damn it!"
After cursing, the Emperor immediately ordered the imperial physicians to be summoned.
The imperial physicians attending the Emperor were well aware of his physical condition. Through years of careful management, the Emperor had maintained excellent control over his emotions, rarely becoming angry or disheartened. However, after taking his pulse today, the physician was greatly alarmed.
"Your Majesty's emotions are turbulent, injuring your heart meridian. The situation is not good. Your Majesty must calm your mind and not be greatly agitated!" the physician said anxiously.
The Emperor had maintained a calm demeanor for many years, rarely experiencing such emotional turmoil. This was the first time.
Although the physician was curious why the Emperor was so agitated today, the primary task now was to treat him.
The Emperor took several deep breaths, pressing his hand to his chest. His heartbeat was accelerating uncontrollably, clearly a result of his earlier outburst of immense anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Find a way to treat me as quickly as possible."
The physician looked troubled. "Your Majesty's old injury is severe. After years of treatment, it has only been suppressed and managed. It is difficult to truly cure. Today, Your Majesty's emotions are greatly agitated, and the situation is somewhat perilous. I can only do my best."
The Emperor's expression turned grim upon hearing this. "Summon more people."
Shortly thereafter, several more imperial physicians arrived.
Upon seeing the pale Emperor, they were all startled, realizing the Emperor was in peril today.
After taking his pulse and discussing amongst themselves,
they devised a prescription.
One physician, skilled in acupuncture, quickly administered treatment to the Emperor. The Emperor, who had been experiencing shortness of breath, found his breathing much steadier after this intervention.
His complexion also became somewhat ruddy, no longer as deathly pale as before.
The Emperor had intended to summon Zhan Tianye, but was too exhausted and fell asleep.
While the Emperor slept due to exhaustion from his old injury, Li De once again remained awake all night.
The raging fire in his chest continued to churn.
He increasingly felt as though he had shot himself in the foot!
Zhan Tianye was beyond his control, Yun Shu was beyond his control, one by one they slipped out of his grasp. He even had an ominous premonition of reaping what he had sown. Had Zhan Tianye regained his memory?
Was it truly possible?
Throughout history, no one had ever been able to break free.
Could Zhan Tianye truly achieve this?
Li De's mind was in utter turmoil.
As he remained in this chaotic state, the night passed.
Two days later.
The peaceful capital of Western Xia was suddenly stirred by turmoil.
The Sha Gong, the foremost assassin organization in Western Xia, suffered casualties of over a hundred people within a mere two days.
These hundred individuals were assassins from Sha Gong, spread throughout Western Xia.
They were entrenched in various places under different identities.
Ordinary people might not notice, but those within Sha Gong could truly feel it. Instantly, panic spread amongst them.
Princess Ningde, upon hearing the news that morning, had ordered a thorough investigation. She demanded to know who could strike against Sha Gong so silently.
However, the people dispatched to investigate found no leads after a long search, with pigeon post messages arriving one after another.
For a time, the Sha Gong, which had always been held in awe across the land, and its esteemed assassins were all gripped by fear.
Who could possibly be capable of such a silent assault on their members?
Princess Ningde finished her tea, pressing her hand to her temple. For the first time, she felt a sense of helplessness. "Who could it be? Yun Shu?"
Over the years, under her leadership, Sha Gong had become the foremost organization in the land. Her assassins and spies were spread far and wide, and due to their ruthless methods, they never left any loose ends, thus no incidents had ever occurred.
Their failures were few and far between.
Could it be...
"Is it truly Yun Shu?"
"If it's her, how did she do it? With the help of her father? Or the secret guards Prince Jin left behind in the Eastern Ning Kingdom? Or perhaps that Xie Jin?"
Subtly, she also considered it might be Zhan Tianye.
Someone capable of such strategic planning, catching her completely off guard, should be him.
But...
"No, it's unlikely. It's highly improbable for him. Although he is still infatuated with Yun Shu, he is now Prince Jin, and he cannot shed this identity. Furthermore, he has been under the Emperor's surveillance recently. How could he have accomplished these deeds without a sound?"
She began to doubt herself again.
Zhen Lin suddenly rushed towards Princess Ningde.
"Ningde, you and I must go to the General's residence immediately and see the Night King's Consort!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Ningde frowned, asking in confusion, "Brother, why is this?"
"Because the Night King has arrived! The Night King has appeared at the General's residence," Zhen Lin said with urgency.