The surrounding voices became noisy. Liu Liu was stunned, only staring blankly at Jiang Cheng. After a long while, she didn't react. Cui'er was frightened and rushed to her feet, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but Jiang Cheng is dead. He died protecting me. In fact, he didn't have to do this," Liu Liu murmured, her hands covered in blood, her white skirt stained with it. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, her face cold and stern.
The thought of Jiang Cheng dying for her made her heart ache. Why did he have to protect her? If he hadn't, he wouldn't have died.
In front of Weiyang Palace, a dense crowd of people knelt, including eunuchs, palace maids, and many guards. All were moved by Jiang Cheng's loyalty to his master, and they respected him greatly. Especially Zhao Mei, who was so grateful that he, a dignified captain of the guards, also knelt for Jiang Cheng.
The moonlight was dazzling, the wind whispered past, and the surroundings were as silent as death until a sharp cry rang out: "The Emperor has arrived."
The crowd did not rise but respectfully said, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
Feng Xie passed through the crowd, his gaze falling on Liu Liu. Seeing her white dress stained with blood, he was already scared out of his wits. He moved and quickly pulled her cool, ice-like hand, asking anxiously, "Where is the Empress wounded? Where?"
Liu Liu spread her hands and weakly shook her head. Seeing Feng Xie approach, she had forgotten how much she hated this man. She leaned against his chest, weeping silently, and choked out, "It's not me. It's Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng died for me. My heart aches so much. I owe him too much, and I have no way to repay him."
"It's alright, it's alright," Feng Xie said, gently patting Liu Liu's shoulder, while looking at Jiang Cheng. His dark eyes were deep, and his heart was equally heavy.
This eunuch, who had served him since childhood, had played a significant role in shaping his young mind. When he was little, he loved taking him to the back mountain to fly kites. He even guided him to have great ambitions as an emperor and work for the welfare of the people.
From that moment on, he respected and honored him. After he ascended the throne, he made him the head eunuch of the harem.
Since the Empress entered the palace, he had been secretly taking care of her. He knew this. Sometimes, he wondered how such an unusual person like him could meet someone he wanted to help.
Now that he was willing to die for the Empress, Feng Xie was very grateful for his actions. Although he knew that the Empress might be unharmed, he was very happy.
"Someone, give Jiang Cheng a grand funeral."
"Your servant obeys the decree." A sound of agreement echoed, but it seemed distant and ethereal to Liu Liu. Her mind was filled with Jiang Cheng's last doting words. Liu Li, he actually called her Liu Li. Did it mean Jiang Cheng knew her, and that's why he kept protecting her?
But her name was Liu Liu. Why did he call her Liu Li? She couldn't understand. Was Jiang Cheng confused and mistaking her for someone else?
Liu Liu leaned speechlessly against Feng Xie's chest. Feng Xie wrapped his arms around her and walked towards Weiyang Palace. Cui'er followed closely behind him, carefully entering Weiyang Palace.
Outside the palace, Zhao Mei stood up and remained silent for a long time. Only later did he turn to order someone to carry Chief Eunuch Jiang away.
In the sleeping quarters, Feng Xie carefully settled Liu Liu onto the large bed. He turned and instructed Cui'er, who was beside him, "Take good care of the Empress. Stay here tonight and do not leave her side."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cui'er replied. The Emperor then left the sleeping quarters. After the Emperor left, Cui'er, Cai Xia, and the other maids quickly gathered around the Empress's bed and softly called out, "Your Majesty, are you alright? Your Majesty."
After a long while, Liu Liu reacted. Her eyes coldly swept over the palace maids by the bed. Why did people keep dying in this palace? She felt that beneath these superficial events lay a huge secret, and as this secret slowly unfolded, more people would die. Her heart turned cold.
"Cui'er, why is this happening? I didn't need him to block the arrow for me. How can I repay him now?"
Cui'er knew that her mistress had always disliked owing favors. Ever since she entered the palace, Jiang Cheng had been helping her. She already felt indebted to Jiang Cheng, and now he had died for her.
Actually, thinking about it, Jiang Cheng died unjustly. With her master's skills, that arrow would never have hit her. But Jiang Cheng didn't know this, which is why he desperately blocked the arrow for his master.
"Your Majesty, don't think too much. His Majesty has already sent people to give Chief Eunuch Jiang a grand funeral. His willingness to protect Your Majesty is also due to his affection for you." Liu Liu remained silent, her mind slowly clearing.
Why did someone want to kill her and not Feng Xie? That arrow was clearly aimed at her. While the assassin entered the palace, they shot a cold arrow at her. Who could that person be? Her pupils suddenly darkened, and a murderous intent arose. She quickly ordered.
"Cai Xia, immediately instruct Xiao Anzi to find the Captain of the Guards, Zhao Jiu, and ask who the person who ambushed me is. Do not conceal anything."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cai Xia replied and walked out.
In the sleeping quarters, the lamplight flickered like fireflies, casting an infinite, cold glow. Cui'er helped her mistress lie down. She and Ming Yue, two young maids, stayed by her mistress's side, gently admonishing, "Your Majesty, please get some sleep. Everything is alright now."
Liu Liu lay on the bed, her thoughts in turmoil. She deeply suspected her own identity. Jiang Cheng, who had protected her with his life, had called her Liu Li. So, who was she? She had also suspected before that she wasn't the daughter of the Liu family, because the Liu family was full of handsome men and beautiful women, and she had never seen an ugly person. Yet, she was born such an anomaly.
It didn't matter who she was. What was important was that Jiang Cheng had died for her, and Qiao'er had also died because she entered the palace. What kind of murderous intent was hidden beneath these superficial events? She had to find out who the black hand behind it was. As Liu Liu thought, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, in Yongyuan Hall, the lights were bright. Feng Xie, seated on a high throne, had a handsome, charming face that flashed with thunderous rage upon hearing the report from his subordinate. His thin lips were pursed into a line, and a cold, dark glint flickered in his eyes.
His mouth, with its silvery-white teeth, appeared bone-white in the light, filled with bloodthirsty anger.
"You're saying the person who tried to kill the Empress was a eunuch?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao Mei replied calmly, cupping his fist. He had already ordered a search of the deceased's body. He was a eunuch, which indicated that someone in the palace wanted to harm the Empress.
More directly, it meant that a certain concubine in the harem wanted to harm the Empress, and therefore bribed a martial eunuch to hide in the shadows and shoot a cold arrow at the Empress. However, Jiang Cheng, in his eagerness to protect his master, blocked it.
Feng Xie listened to Zhao Jiu's affirmative reply, raised his hand, and struck the table heavily. Harsh words flew out simultaneously: "Damn it! Investigate! Regardless of who it is, they will all be put to death! How dare they act under my nose? What nonsense!"
"This subject obeys the decree," Zhao Jiu replied and prepared to withdraw. Feng Xie raised his hand to stop him, looking at him coldly, "Be more careful in the future. Such things must never happen again."
"Yes," Zhao Mei lowered his head. Tonight's incident was his negligence. If it happened again, the Emperor would not spare him. Therefore, he had to be extremely cautious. However, he had some idea about who wanted to harm the Empress. After all, that person had approached him, hadn't they?