The sun burst through the sky, and the prison carts approached from afar. The street immediately fell silent, for all the assassins on the row of prison carts were women.
The oldest was over thirty, and the youngest only around twenty. All were beautiful, yet they wore Taoist robes. It was unexpected that those attempting to assassinate the Emperor were Taoist nuns.
Although these women were assassins, everyone felt a pang in their eyes. No one wanted to speak, truly unable to comprehend why these Taoist nuns would infiltrate the palace to assassinate the Emperor. The Emperor hadn't committed any heinous acts.
Liu Liu and Dai Mei were amidst the crowd. Ever since seeing the assassin in one of the prison carts, Liu Liu's eyes had welled up, for it was her aunt, Su Xin He. Indeed, her aunt had infiltrated the palace for an assassination.
It seemed that when she had asked Liu Liu to find Su Liu Feng that day, she had already prepared for the palace infiltration. This assassination plan was something they had prepared for twenty years. Even if her aunt was unwilling to carry out the assassination in the palace,
What about those women whose purpose was revenge? Her aunt would never let them down. How could she not have considered this aspect that day?
Liu Liu blamed herself inwardly. The one escorting the prison carts was none other than Concubine Shu's elder brother, Jin Zhao Yuan. Jin Zhao Yuan's expression was rather grim. Liu Liu couldn't fathom why his expression had turned so unpleasant, but she had no time to ponder it, her gaze scanning the people behind the prison carts.
There were over twenty people escorting the prison carts. For so many assassins, this was clearly too careless. Others might not know, but Liu Liu understood.
It seemed Feng Xie had truly prepared to capture her. If she didn't appear, her aunt and the others would only face execution. But if she stepped forward, perhaps she could secure a temporary reprieve for them.
Dai Mei followed closely behind her master. Seeing her master's exceptionally grim expression and her slightly tearful eyes, she knew the people in the prison carts must be her master's aunt. Therefore, she dared not offer any comfort, for once people were captured, any comfort would be false.
The crowd followed the prison carts all the way to the Western Suburbs Execution Ground, where an execution supervisor was already waiting. Jin Zhao Yuan escorted the prisoners there, completed the handover, and then led his men to the side.
The scorching sun hung high in the sky. The women were tied to the execution frames one by one, their clothes not even changed. They wore only Taoist robes, their hair unbound, covering half their faces.
The surrounding crowd let out sighs of sympathy. These people about to be executed had no one to even serve them tea, how could they not feel the desolation?
"This person is so pitiful. But why did they attempt to assassinate the Emperor?"
"Yes, too pitiful. Why did they try to assassinate the Emperor for no reason? Would the Emperor forgive them lightly?"
Liu Liu gritted her teeth upon hearing the discussions, her eyes turning icy. She gripped her long sword, realizing Feng Xie truly intended to force her to reveal herself. Then, she would have a gamble. If she won, he would save people and leave. If she lost, she would go into the palace, still protecting her aunt.
"Master, I suggest you don't act rashly. It seems the Emperor truly wants to capture you and bring you back?"
Dai Mei reminded her master with a smile, as there were clearly many unusual people in the crowd. These individuals did not look like ordinary citizens, most likely palace guards.
"I know, but the arrow is already on the string, and there's no turning back. Must I truly watch my aunt perish by the blade? Feng Xie is a ruthless person. As long as I don't appear, I believe he will kill these people. Some of them merely hold grudges."
Liu Liu sighed helplessly, finding herself with no other recourse.
As midday arrived, the wind picked up. The execution supervisor threw down the word "Execute," the executioners pulled down the execution beam, raised their great swords, and with a roar, shouted, "Execute!"
Many covered their eyes, unable to watch. But at this very moment, Liu Liu leaped into the air and commanded Dai Mei, "You don't need to act. Go back to Xiaoyao Island."
With that, her figure, like a fluttering butterfly, her black hair flying, her thin veil fluttering, and her long robes dancing in the air, soared. However, before her figure could reach the prisoners, another figure, who had leaped out at the same time, beat her to it.
It was a handsome, dark-haired man. His starlike eyes, flowing like a waxing crescent moon, held boundless weariness. He swiftly landed beside the prisoners and Liu Liu heard him call out bitterly, "Xin He."
So, this person knew her aunt. As the two of them leaped into the fray, a large group of plainclothes guards emerged from the crowd. The execution supervisor cried out in panic.
"Someone is storming the execution ground!"
The crowd immediately descended into chaos. Liu Liu and the man quickly retreated together and began fighting the guards. Liu Liu heard the handsome man's husky voice ring out, "Who are you to her? Why are you here to save her?"
Liu Liu was startled by his question, as his voice was very familiar. It was the ferryman on the Mirror River. So, the person he was waiting for was her aunt. Liu Liu replied, "My name is Su Liu Li, and she is my aunt, Su Xin He."
"Su Liu Li?" The man laughed amidst the fight. So, she was from their Su family. It seemed he truly had a connection with the Su family. Seeing the crowd growing larger and larger, Dai Mei, in the crowd, saw her master fighting alone and could no longer bear it, wanting to help her.
Suddenly, a man as handsome as a divine being swept through the crowd, as light as a flying bird. His white robes billowed, like wind passing by the ear, and he lightly landed beside her master, while her master was dealing with the surrounding people.
Those people were all highly skilled in martial arts. She had to guard against the man who suddenly appeared, yet he easily approached her side, lightly saying as he stayed close to her.
"My Empress, have you had enough fun? It's time to return to the palace," his lazy, casual voice sounded. Liu Liu's body stiffened, and with a touch from him, her acupoints were sealed, and she was pulled into his embrace.
The guards made no sound as the man who appeared later whisked the master away. Although Dai Mei couldn't clearly see the man's appearance, judging by his noble demeanor and the domineering aura around him, she knew he must be the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor himself had appeared. Dai Mei could only retreat silently. She would still go to Xiaoyao Island to discuss countermeasures with everyone.
Liu Liu, with her acupoints sealed by Feng Xie, was brought to Weiyang Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs there greeted the Empress's return with great excitement. Although Liu Liu was happy to see these maids and eunuchs, she was unhappy to see the man seated on the throne.
He had sealed her acupoints, rendering her unable to move. She sat coldly beside him.
"Your Majesty, release me."
"Release you, so you can run away again?" Feng Xie's expression suddenly turned cold, emanating a chilling aura. Didn't she know how much he had done less for her recently? He had always prioritized the empire. But ever since she left the palace, he had spent his days plotting how to lure her out, with little thought for state affairs.
Now that she had finally returned, he had to think carefully about how to keep her contentedly in Weiyang Palace. Liu Liu looked at Feng Xie with a pounding heart. What did he intend to do? His gaze clearly held ill-intentioned calculations.
Seeing his large hand condense into a surge of internal energy and cover her crown, her expression changed drastically. She gritted her teeth and roared.
"Feng Xie, if you dare to cripple my martial arts, I will be irreconcilable with you."