"It has nothing to do with Qianlong, these assassins also wanted to kill me!" Shen Lixue explained, looking at the two steel nail beds. The steel nail beds collided and merged into one, with nails intersecting and densely covering the entire bed board. If Dongfang Heng had not saved Shen Lixue, her legs would definitely have been pierced by the heavy steel nails, and she would have been seriously injured or crippled even if she didn't die.
Gazing at the tightly joined steel nail bed, Dongfang Heng's obsidian-like eyes narrowed slightly. The assassins' targets, besides Ye Qianlong, also included Li Xue…
A string of blood droplets sprayed into the air, and the last man in black fell to the ground dead. The guards quickly gathered in front of Dongfang Heng: "Reporting to the Prince, all assassins must be killed without mercy!"
Behind him, corpses piled up and blood flowed like a river. The strong stench of blood permeated the air. Dongfang Heng remained unfazed, waved his hand lightly, and the guards understood, instantly disappearing into the transparent air.
"Clatter, clatter!" A series of rapid hoofbeats sounded, and Shen Lixue glanced to the side and saw that Crown Prince Dongfang Hong had led a large number of guards into the area.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Dongfang Hong had arrived just in time. The assassins were all dead, and he had come just like last time in the alley.
Upon approaching, Dongfang Hong dismounted and frowned at the corpses and blood on the ground. He looked at Dongfang Heng with confusion and asked, "Prince An, what happened?"
"They tried to assassinate him, but my men dealt with them!" Dongfang Heng replied coldly, his face expressionless.
Following Dongfang Heng's pointing finger, Dongfang Hong saw Ye Qianlong. His gaze instantly darkened. Ye Qianlong's stunning beauty made the world pale in comparison. His clear eyes were untouched by worldly dust, and his noble aura made people dare not look directly at him. Such an outstanding person could not be an ordinary person: "Prince An, which family in the capital is he? I have never seen him before."
"He is the Crown Prince of Xiliang, Ye Qianlong!" Dongfang Heng smiled, revealing the answer.
"What? The Crown Prince of Xiliang?" Dongfang Hong's brows furrowed instantly as he scrutinized Ye Qianlong. Dressed in black, he possessed a noble air, but his eyes were far too clear: "Is he really the Crown Prince of Xiliang?"
“Absolutely genuine!” Dongfang Heng glanced at Ye Qianlong and answered coldly.
Dongfang Hong's gaze sharpened: "The black-clad assassins who tried to kill us at Xiangguo Temple..."
“It wasn’t him who sent them!” Dongfang Heng shook his head and looked at Ye Qianlong: “All of his bodyguards have disappeared, leaving him all alone. It’s impossible for him to have sent assassins to attack Xiangguo Temple. The black-clad assassins who died earlier were there to kill him!”
"Could it be that there's internal strife in Xiliang, and someone is trying to kill the Crown Prince and seize power?" Dongfang Hong asked solemnly, deliberately lowering his voice so that only he and Dongfang Heng could hear him.
"I don't know!" Dongfang Heng shook his head, his gaze cold. Sending assassins to hunt down the Crown Prince of Xiliang easily makes people think of the future throne of the emperor. It's not wrong for Dongfang Hong to think that way.
"What do you think should be done with Ye Qianlong?" Dongfang Hong asked in a low voice, as if probing, or perhaps seeking Dongfang Heng's opinion.
“He is the Crown Prince of Xiliang, a man of noble status. We cannot make a hasty judgment. Send him to see the Emperor and let him decide for himself!” Dongfang Heng’s face was indifferent, and his voice was slightly cold, as if he were an outsider discussing matters, making it impossible for anyone to guess his true thoughts.
"This is not a bad idea!" Dongfang Hong looked at Dongfang Heng, nodded thoughtfully, smiled slightly, and turned to instruct the guards: "You few, escort the Crown Prince of Xiliang to the palace to see the Emperor!"
"Yes!" the six guards replied respectfully and quickly walked towards Ye Qianlong.
Ye Qianlong gripped Shen Lixue's sleeve tightly, his brows furrowed, a hint of distress flashing in his clear eyes: "Lixue, I don't want to go with them!"
Dongfang Heng's sharp, cold gaze shot towards Ye Qianlong again. He was quite adept at seizing opportunities to get close to Li Xue!
"They're just taking you to see the Emperor, they won't hurt you!" Shen Lixue ignored Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze and gently comforted Ye Qianlong.
A mysterious force has been lurking in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike. Its movements are unpredictable and elusive, making it impossible to guard against. In the Qingyan Kingdom, the emperor holds the most power and influence. If the emperor intervenes in this matter, that force will surely restrain itself and dare not openly harm him again.
"Then you'll come with me!" Ye Qianlong said pitifully, clinging tightly to Shen Lixue's sleeve.
“Alright!” Shen Lixue nodded with a smile. Qianlong was simple-minded and didn’t understand human relationships. Moreover, they were on foreign soil, so she had no intention of letting him enter the palace alone. Besides, she also wanted to hear for herself how the emperor would decide the matter.
"Thank you, Li Xue!" Ye Qianlong's smile was pure and innocent, as clear as a lotus flower.
Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze, like a cold blade, suddenly shot towards Ye Qianlong, the fierce cold light instantly freezing him!
"Dongfang Heng, leave this to His Highness the Crown Prince. Let's go to the palace together!" Shen Lixue invited Dongfang Heng with a smile. He was a prince of the royal family and had known Ye Qianlong for a long time, so he was practically a friend. With him there, the emperor shouldn't make things too difficult for Ye Qianlong. Besides, Dongfang Heng knew the most about these black-clad assassins. His explanation to the emperor would be much clearer and more credible than Ye Qianlong's.
"Alright!" Dongfang Heng nodded, his gloomy expression gradually softening, but his gaze toward Ye Qianlong remained icy.
Ye Qianlong's eyes dimmed slightly. He lowered his head, gripping Shen Lixue's sleeve tightly, and remained silent.
"Prince An, where were you assassinated from?" This place is remote, and there is a dead end ahead. At night, no one usually comes here, and there is no way Dongfang Heng could have walked here by himself.
"Drunken Immortal Pavilion!" Dongfang Heng replied calmly, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes.
"These assassins are really bold!" Dongfang Hong looked at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion above his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.
A figure flashed past out of the corner of her eye, and Shen Lixue's eyes turned cold as she suddenly shot out a silver needle: "Who goes there?"
"Oh, it's me, it's me, don't do anything!" Zhuang Kexin raised her hands and jumped out from around the corner, her beautiful face full of panic. Behind her were two equally trembling maids.
The noblewoman, severely injured, posed no threat whatsoever. The guards relaxed, sheathed their swords, and went to move the body in twos and threes.
"Zhuang Kexin, what are you doing here?" Shen Lixue slowly put away her silver needles, looked at Zhuang Kexin, and gave her a half-smile.
"I was having a meal nearby when I saw a lot of people here. I was curious, so I came over to take a look!" Zhuang Kexin said awkwardly, a strange emotion flashing quickly in her eyes, so fast that no one could see it clearly. She staggered a few steps, quickly put down her arms, and helped the maids beside her.
“Miss Zhuang is injured and should rest more in the manor. Wandering around is not good for her injury!” Shen Lixue smiled meaningfully. Her accident happened and Zhuang Kexin appeared nearby. What a coincidence!
"Sister Lixue is absolutely right, I've learned a lot." Zhuang Kexin smiled slightly, curtsied to Shen Lixue, her eyes sparkling: "I've been having a really bad run of luck lately. Whenever I go out, I either run into a mentally challenged person with a broken arm or an idiot who doesn't know his own limitations. The trouble I get into is getting bigger and bigger, and it's frightening me too!"
Shen Lixue remained calm and politely smiled, "When other people go out, they encounter all sorts of people. But when Miss Zhuang goes out, she either runs into idiots or morons. Her luck is really not good..."
Zhuang Kexin's smug smile instantly froze. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. People meet people when they go out, fools meet fools, and idiots meet idiots. Shen Lixue was indirectly mocking herself as a fool and an idiot.
The girls were engaged in a silent battle of wits, and Dongfang Hong, not wanting to be interrupted, coughed a few times and continued discussing the black-clad assassin with Dongfang Heng.
Shen Lixue had the upper hand, and Dongfang Heng showed no intention of intervening, coldly recounting the situation of the assassins as he knew it.
Ye Qianlong held onto Shen Lixue's sleeve, lowered his head, and stood quietly without saying a word.
The guards were busy with their duties, moving the corpses, and didn't notice the undercurrent of conflict between Shen Lixue and Zhuang Kexin.
After a moment, Zhuang Kexin calmed down, a slight smile appearing on her lips: "To be assassinated even while having dinner, what a stroke of bad luck! If it were me, I would definitely stay at home, unlike some fool who, knowing the danger, still recklessly wandered around, causing a huge mess and dragging others down with him..."
"For everyone, family is the most important thing. If you get into trouble, you should resolve it outside, instead of irresponsibly bringing it home and making your family worry with you..." Shen Lixue said calmly, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Zhuang Kexin was deliberately trying to cause her trouble; she was really overestimating herself.
Zhuang Kexin's face flushed red and then turned pale, changing more than ten colors in an instant. Shen Lixue was mocking herself for being irresponsible and bringing her troubles to her family!