Just as hеr dаnсе stеps brought her bеfоre Fu Yunxi, а servant оutsidе suddеnlу саme to rеport, "Your Highness, therе is а yоung ladу whо wishеs tо seе уоu."
Тhе danсer's outstretсhеd arm frоze mid-motion, аnd a flickеr of light pаssеd thrоugh Fu Yunхi's еуеs. "Let her in."
"Тrulу, I nevеr knеw уou hаd such а sidе," Heliаn Yu tеasеd with a mischievоus smile. "Which yоung lаdу has сome loоking fоr оur prinсе?" Whеn thе girl еntеred thе rоom, аll threе of them wеre slightlу tаkеn abасk, fоr thеy recоgnized her—she was Zhuang Нanyan's рersonаl maid, Shu Ноng.
"Little girl, whу is it you?" Helian Yu exclaimed in surprise.
Shu Hong's eyes flashed, and she suddenly knelt down, clutching the purple-clad dancer's leg as she wailed loudly, "Miss, oh, miss, Hong'er has finally found you. If you don't want to marry Young Master Li, so be it—the master won't force you. But how could you go to such a place and degrade yourself? Miss, please come home with Hong'er."
The purple-clad dancer hadn't anticipated such a scene—a strange maid suddenly clinging to her leg and weeping. Her heart tightened as she saw the three men, who had been laughing and chatting moments before, now looking at her with stern, meaningful expressions.
The dancer was momentarily stunned but quickly replied, "You've mistaken me for someone else."
Shu Hong refused to relent, crying out, "Miss, this servant knows you're suffering, but you can't just refuse to come home. The master is beside himself with worry, and the mistress cries all day..." Usually calm and composed, rarely showing emotion, her acting was not only unforced but so natural it would move anyone who heard it. If Ji Lan had been present, she would have been shocked enough for her eyes to nearly pop out.
Seeing that she couldn't shake the girl off, the dancer grew indignant. "I am not your miss. What exactly are you trying to do?" She turned her head toward Fu Yunxi on the soft couch, tears glistening in her eyes. "Your Highness, save me!"
Fu Yunxi's indifferent gaze swept over her, and the dancer felt a chill run through her entire body. Though his features were exquisitely handsome, his aura was icy and untouchable. Under those deep, ink-black eyes, all her schemes seemed laid bare. Gritting her teeth, she moved her foot. Shu Hong felt a kick to her abdomen—a motion that appeared to others as a mere gentle struggle but carried the full force of her strength. A sharp, piercing pain shot through her, and Shu Hong's grip loosened as she clutched her stomach and fell backward to the ground. When she looked up again, the dancer was already rushing toward Fu Yunxi's embrace. "Your Highness!"
Tear stains still marked her face, and her body was as soft as if boneless. Even if suspicions lingered, as a man, seeing such a pitiful, weeping beauty would stir a sense of tenderness. Yet Fu Yunxi merely stared at the wine cup in his hand, as if the fine wine within held his complete attention.
Just as the dancer was about to throw herself into Fu Yunxi's embrace, a cold glint suddenly flashed from her sleeve—a gleaming dagger unsheathed, aimed straight for his heart. Her expression turned ferocious, like a vengeful ghost. Facing the dagger cutting through the air, the man didn't even furrow his brow, only pursed his lips slightly. The fingers holding the wine cup tightened, and the white jade cup instantly shattered into several pieces. Delicate shards scattered like petals, carrying a supple force that met the dagger with effortless grace. The dancer felt a shock in her hand, a bone-chilling pain spreading from her wrist. With a crisp clang, the jade shards knocked the dagger from her grasp, and both fell to the ground.Her eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, "You...?" Her skills were certainly not lacking, yet this seemingly handsome man had effortlessly blocked her assassination attempt as if it were nothing? Moreover, he seemed to be toying with her, clearly not exerting his full strength in the confrontation.
Before she could make her next move, a sudden explosive roar erupted from outside the window, followed by the sounds of tables and chairs colliding and the incessant cries of women. Immediately after, a chill ran down her spine as dozens of masked black-clad figures burst through the window. With a sharp "swish," they drew their swords and, without a word, launched an attack on those seated in the room.
Fu Yunxi's eyes turned cold as he abruptly rose from the soft couch. A black-clad figure swung a blade toward his back, but in the next moment, the attacker felt no sensation in his hand. Looking down, he saw his right hand, still gripping the sword, severed and lying on the ground, the wound eerily devoid of any blood. In a flash of white robes, Fu Yunxi had vanished from his seat, leaving behind only a faint glimpse of pale official silk embroidered with white plum blossoms and a chilling voice filled with a baleful aura: "Clean up."
In the neighboring room, Han Yan hid behind a large official kiln vase, not daring to make a sound. She had no idea what was happening. Moments earlier, she had sent Shu Hong into Fu Yunxi's room and waited in the adjacent chamber. The rooms here were divided into an outer and inner section. The inner area was where guests gathered for banquets and conversation, while the outer section was separated by a screen, reserved for maids awaiting orders. Since the guests in this room had not brought any maids, Han Yan, not wanting to be seen by others, had hidden in the outer area. Unexpectedly, within moments, the sounds of clashing blades and fighting erupted from the inner room. At the same time, chaos broke out in the main hall. Trapped and unable to leave or enter, she had no choice but to hide behind the half-person-tall official kiln vase for the time being.
Her breathing was light, but anxiety gnawed at her heart. What exactly was happening now? Had something happened to Shu Hong? The thought only intensified her worry. She silently cursed herself for meddling in others' affairs. If she hadn't been worried that the Seventh Prince might pose a threat to Fu Yunxi, why would she have rushed here? Now, she was trapped in a dire situation, and Shu Hong was caught up in it as well.
Just then, the sound of women weeping and pleading for mercy, accompanied by the cries of an infant, suddenly came from the inner room. Han Yan's heart tightened, followed by the tearing sound of a long blade piercing flesh. The infant's cries and the woman's wails abruptly ceased. Han Yan's heart sank slowly, and she couldn't help but clench her fists. Moments later, light footsteps echoed in the now-silent room.
The sound seemed to carry a baleful aura. Han Yan felt her scalp tingle, her back drenched in cold sweat. Her body trembled slightly behind the vase, but she remained silent, tightening her grip on the Plum Blossom Thorn at her waist.
"Tap, tap, tap." The footsteps drew closer and closer to Han Yan. Her palms felt unbearably hot, and her breathing grew increasingly suppressed.
When the footsteps finally passed by her, Han Yan let out a soft sigh of relief, grateful to have escaped danger. But before she could even steady her breath, a sudden chill swept over her side as an icy gust of wind struck her head-on.
Not good! Han Yan screamed inwardly. She had no martial arts skills, while these black-clad figures were trained fighters with exceptional hearing. Her careless sigh of relief earlier was likely to bring fatal consequences. In the blink of an eye, she forcefully drew the Plum Blossom Thorn from her waist and, with all her might, thrust it toward the figure, determined that even if she died today, she would take this person down with her.But unexpectedly, the cold chill stopped right above her head, and a pair of slightly cool hands gently stroked her hair. Han Yan widened her eyes and looked up, meeting a pair of deep, dark eyes. Under the moonlight, his handsome face seemed even more ethereal, like an immortal untouched by worldly affairs. At this moment, he was draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, his posture tall and slender, holding a crystal-clear long sword in his hand, gazing at her calmly.
It was Fu Yunxi.
Han Yan was momentarily dazed. When she came to her senses, she realized she had been staring intently at him for quite some time and, for once, found herself stammering: "Your... Your Highness."
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