The group had all been to Xiangguo Temple before and were familiar with the terrain. Without needing anyone to guide them, they followed the gravel path straight to Master Yan Hui's room.
In the distance, two figures could be seen walking slowly along the bluestone road. It was Master Yan Hui, the emperor, the eunuch, the guards, and others following at a distance.
The Emperor is alright! Shen Lixue breathed a sigh of relief. Beside her, Dongfang Heng and Nangong Xiao also slowed their pace, clearly relieved as well.
"Buzz buzz buzz!" The long, drawn-out sound of the bell echoed through the air above Xiangguo Temple. It lingered, and as lunchtime approached, both monks and pilgrims who stayed there opened their doors to prepare for their meal in the dining hall.
Xiangguo Temple is located on the mountaintop, and the air is very fresh. Shen Lixue looked in the direction of Zhan Wang's bamboo house. Her adoptive father had not come for many days. She wondered how the bamboo house was doing.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a pale green amidst the lush green trees. Normally, she might not have paid it any mind and would have continued to peer through the air at the bamboo forest. But today, the situation was different, and she was on guard. That unnatural green immediately caught her eye.
Upon closer inspection, even from a distance, one could vaguely make out that it was a man dressed in green civilian clothes, broad-shouldered and with an ordinary appearance, just like many ordinary pilgrims. Such an ordinary person, yet he was holding something absolutely extraordinary in his hand.
His gaze drifted toward the bluestone path, and he raised his arm, placing a long object on it.
Those are... bows and arrows!
After the word popped into Shen Lixue's mind, she immediately thought of his purpose: assassination. He had gone to great lengths to hide among the green trees and was carrying a bow and arrow. What else could it be but assassination?
Shen Lixue's gaze followed the fine bow and arrow to its target. A strange light flashed in her eyes. Her lips moved, but she didn't speak. She gently tugged at Lin Yan's sleeve beside her.
Lin Yan looked at Shen Lixue, only to see her cold gaze fixed on the woods. He looked over in confusion, his breath hitched, and when he looked at Shen Lixue again, his eyes were full of surprise.
Shen Lixue patted Lin Yan's hand, signaling him to calm down. She glanced at the hidden person and nodded slightly, the meaning of which was self-evident.
Lin Yan nodded. He couldn't exclaim, otherwise he would alert the enemy. He quietly took out a dagger from his sleeve, preparing to shoot it at the hidden person.
A familiar figure ran out from among the worshippers. Dressed in simple clothes, with a handsome face, it was Mu Zhengnan. He also saw the assassin, his eyes gleaming, and he shouted, "Your Majesty, be careful!" He rushed straight towards the emperor, ready to save him.
The hidden man had just set up his bow and was adjusting the distance when he was startled by Mu Zhengnan's shout. His eyes turned cold, and he quickly released the bowstring. The black arrow, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, flew towards the emperor with lightning speed.
Shen Lixue smiled coldly, and with a flick of her slender hand, a silver needle flew out towards Mu Zhengnan, slicing his ankle. He paused, then fell to the ground in a disheveled state.
The arrow had already reached them, and the unsuspecting guards had no time to stop it.
Just then, Lin Yan flicked his wrist, and a sharp dagger flew towards the hidden man. He then rushed forward, shouting, "Your Majesty, be careful!"
With a "whoosh," Lin Yan's dagger struck the man's chest, while the man's black feathered arrow pierced Lin Yan's left shoulder, blood flowing from the wound.
The stunned pilgrims and guards, realizing what was happening, began to react with terrified, flustered, and tense voices:
"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"
"Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin now..."
A familiar exclamation reached her ears. Shen Lixue was startled and turned around to see Lei Hong standing guard beside the emperor, his eyes wary, shouting sharply.
The emperor came to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense, but he only brought his princes and no ministers. How come he's here? Could he be a pilgrim staying here?
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed on the ground. Several guards, swords in hand, rushed toward the fallen assassin. More guards stood around the emperor, forming a human wall to prevent any more arrows from being fired.
Lei Hong stood within this wall of flesh, cautiously looking around. His gaze met Shen Lixue's dark eyes, clear as glass yet sharp as ice, watching him with a half-smile, as if she knew everything.
He suddenly felt a chill in his heart, as if she were spying on his secret.
"Cousin Yan!" Shen Lixue withdrew her gaze and hurried forward to check Lin Yan's injuries. The arrow had pierced through his left shoulder, and blood had stained most of his shoulder.
He wanted to tell Shen Lixue that it was just a minor injury and not to worry, but when he moved his mouth, he couldn't make a sound. Everything in front of him became blurry, his mind became dizzy, and his consciousness gradually faded away.
"Cousin Yan!" Amid Shen Lixue's exclamation, Lin Yan closed his eyes tightly, fell unconscious, and the blood flowing from his wound turned purplish-black, reflecting off his blue clothes, a shocking sight.
"Master Yan Hui!" The emperor's gaze sharpened as he looked at the dying young man and called out softly.
"Amitabha! He's been poisoned!" Master Yan Hui, holding prayer beads, squatted down, took out a pill and put it into Lin Yan's mouth, then pressed several acupoints on his body: "Help him to my room, I'll help him detoxify!"
Several guards stepped forward and carried Lin Yan to the back room. Shen Lixue wanted to follow, but Dongfang Heng grabbed her wrist: "Master Yan Hui is detoxifying and doesn't like to be disturbed!"
A guard stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, the assassin was stabbed in the chest by Minister Lin and was still breathing. However, he used his last strength to bite through the poison sac in his mouth and committed suicide!"
The emperor's face was grim as he stared in the direction of the assassin, remaining silent, yet the expression in his eyes shifted a thousand times in an instant.
"Who are you?" The guards drew their swords, the sharp tips pointing directly at Mu Zhengnan, who lay on the ground.
"I am Mu Zhengnan, and I am here to deliver vegetables to Xiangguo Temple!" Facing numerous sharp swords, Mu Zhengnan tried his best to remain calm, but his slightly trembling body betrayed his true emotions.
Shen Lixue sneered. Mu Zhengnan was really lucky. Shen Yingxue was pregnant, and he happened to appear to help her out of the predicament. He wanted to climb the social ladder, but Shen Caixuan's death shattered his dream.
When the emperor was assassinated, he appeared at Xiangguo Temple again, wanting to save the emperor and make a name for himself. If it weren't for his shout that alerted the assassin, Cousin Yan would have already killed the assassin and would not have been injured or poisoned.
"You are a suspect. Lock you up in the Shuntian Prefecture prison. If it is verified that you are not the assassin, you will be released!" A guard captain stepped forward and gave the order in a cold voice. He could not easily trust those who were suspected.
With a bitter face, Mu Zhengnan explained helplessly, "Commander, I am not an assassin, really not. I was the first to spot the assassin and was trying to save Your Majesty!"
His words only fueled the anger of the guard commander. When Mu Zhengnan exclaimed, the assassin had clearly not yet fully nocked his arrow, giving them time to retaliate. If he had quietly informed them, they would have been able to shoot the assassin first, instead of nearly committing dereliction of duty.
"Whether you're an assassin or not, we'll prove your innocence after we investigate!" The guard captain gave him a cold glance and said sternly, "Take him away!"
An assassin was discovered inside the temple, and Xiangguo Temple was completely sealed off. The guards checked all the worshippers in the temple, trying to find out the identity of the person.
Master Yan Hui, having cured the poison, disliked being disturbed. The Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince, and others gathered in the pavilion outside Master Yan Hui's courtyard to protect the Emperor.
Shen Lixue stood at the courtyard gate, watching the guards inside go back and forth, carrying basins of bloody water. She was anxious, wondering how her cousin Yan was doing.
Half an hour later, the door opened, and Master Yan Hui walked out, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Shen Lixue was about to step forward to ask when a gust of wind blew by, and Dongfang Zhan's tall figure appeared in front of Master Yan Hui: "Master, how is Minister Lin's injury?"
Master Yan Hui clasped his hands together and said, “Amitabha, Benefactor Lin’s poison has been cleared, and his wound has been treated and bandaged. There’s nothing seriously wrong. He will recover after a period of rest!”
"Thank you, Master!" Dongfang Zhan smiled politely.