"In my opinion, the Supreme Emperor should not be moved to another room tonight, or it may harm his Dragon Body," Wei Shufen shook her head.
Consort Yin was no fool and grasped the implication immediately, nodding in agreement. "You're right. What should we do then? I only hope the guards can capture the assassin quickly!"
"Naturally. But what if..." Wei Shufen bit her lip, her gaze sweeping around the cramped hall for any possible hiding place. This hastily arranged bedchamber lacked even curtains or screens—just a large bed, a bronze brazier, and a small couch filling the space, with a low wooden clothes rack squeezed beside the couch. The floor was fully carpeted, likely because the Seventeenth Princess had often been punished to kneel here during her stay...
Remembering the frail figure and tearful voice of the young girl, Wei Shufen clenched her teeth and turned to Consort Yin:
"Forgive my impropriety, but desperate times call for desperate measures—to guard against the worst, I suggest hiding the Supreme Emperor under the bed... If the assassin barges in and doesn't spot him at first glance, we can buy more time by insisting he isn't here, even at the cost of our lives!"
Consort Yin looked at the dark altar recess beneath the bed—large enough to fit a person, though undoubtedly filthy, stifling, and uncomfortable. But there was no other choice. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded and called for attendants to carry out the plan.
Several serving girls hastily swept under the bed before lifting the Supreme Emperor from the couch and stuffing him into the recess along with his bedding. Even in his unconscious state, the old man sensed the discomfort, groaning and squirming in protest. Wei Shufen silently prayed—if the assassin did storm in, she hoped the Supreme Emperor wouldn't choose that moment to thrash about under the bed...
The serving girls and palace maids knelt on the carpet, adjusting the bundled Supreme Emperor beneath the bed and pushing him as far back as possible to keep him out of sight. By now, the clamor outside had reached a fever pitch, and the women inside were pale and trembling.
Consort Yin, however, remained composed. With a puff, she blew out the lamps in the room and sat on her small couch, sighing, "We're at heaven's mercy now! Fear won't help!"
Wei Shufen listened intently to the chaos outside, counting silently in her mind until her heartbeat steadied and courage gathered. In the pitch darkness, she volunteered:
"My lady, should I go out to assess the situation? If imperial guards have arrived, they won't know the Supreme Emperor's whereabouts—I could guide them here sooner to stand guard!"
"Well... very well," Consort Yin replied hesitantly. "But stay hidden and avoid the assassin's notice."
"Yes," Wei Shufen acknowledged before slipping out of the secluded hall.
Outside, the cacophony of shouts, clashes, and wails raged on. Figures darted like headless flies along the corridors, punctuated by flashes of torchlight and the clang of steel followed by screams. Wei Shufen hid behind a pillar, her eyes fixed on the chaos engulfing the Great Peace Hall. Soon, she spotted a familiar figure.
Near an inconspicuous flicker of flame, Chai Yingluo's slender silhouette flickered in and out of view. Wei Shufen strained her eyes and confirmed she was leading several black-clad figures, scanning the area as they approached.
Perfect timing.
Wei Shufen turned and dashed back to the small hall where the Supreme Emperor lay. Pushing the door open, she forced her voice to sound eager and relieved:"Consort Yin! Wonderful news! Wonderful news! Come out and see!"
"What?" Consort Yin's voice was filled with surprise. "More good news?"
"Yes! Palace Supervisor Yin has achieved a great feat! Guess who the assassin and rebel he captured is?"
"Who?" In the darkness of the room, Wei Shufen couldn't see Consort Yin's figure clearly, but she heard the rustling of skirts—at least the consort had stood up.
"Palace Supervisor Yin wouldn't let me say. He wants to give you a big surprise," Wei Shufen said with a laugh. "Don't worry, the enemy outside has been dealt with. Please come out and see for yourself!"
Amid the chaos, it was indeed hard to tell whether the commotion outside was from assassins or imperial guards. Hearing this, Consort Yin lifted her skirts and walked to the door, peering out cautiously first. Wei Shufen quickly added, "It's quite cold outside. Please put on a thick cloak before stepping out."
Her thoughtful concern seemed to dispel the middle-aged beauty's last trace of doubt. Consort Yin nodded, tightening the embroidered silk draped over her shoulders by her maids, and stepped out of the hall first. Several serving girls and palace maids followed her.
The noise outside had lessened, but the scene remained chaotic. After walking a few steps along the corridor, Consort Yin turned back and asked Wei Shufen suspiciously, "Where is Yin Tuo? Where's A-Ta?"
"He was just here a moment ago... How strange... Could he have taken the prisoner back to the Western Pavilion?" Wei Shufen gestured for her to walk toward the main corridor. "Palace Supervisor Yin has captured a witness who can prove that the assassins tonight were colluding with Chai Yingluo!"
At these words, Consort Yin's spirits soared, and she quickened her pace, striding ahead of Wei Shufen. As she turned onto the main corridor—she came face to face with Chai Yingluo in the distance.
Seeing the female Taoist unbound and accompanied by several black-clad figures, Consort Yin froze for a moment before swiftly turning to flee. Behind her, Chai Yingluo's voice drifted over, only the latter half audible amid the clamor: "...See? Isn't that Consort Yin?"
The burly, fierce black-clad men surged forward like a gust of wind. A tall, lean assassin reached out and seized Consort Yin. Wei Shufen hadn't run far before she and several maids were also captured by the black-clad figures.
"Where is Li Yuan?" a robust man barked in accented speech—a foreigner. Before Consort Yin could answer, the tall, lean black-clad man holding her pointed toward a small hall deep in the corridor. "He must be there!"
The moment he spoke, Wei Shufen recognized Li Yuangui's voice. But there was no time for greetings now. Li Yuangui shoved Consort Yin toward Chai Yingluo and dashed ahead to the small hall, while the other black-clad men herded the women after him.
Li Yuangui moved swiftly, kicking open the hall door and charging inside. His shout soon echoed from within: "He's not here! No one!"
"He definitely isn't here!" Chai Yingluo, gripping Consort Yin's arms, called out beside Wei Shufen. "She said she'd move the Supreme Emperor far away—this place is too close to the Western Pavilion!"
Two black-clad men entered the hall to check, then retreated. The shorter of the two was visibly furious; even through his black mask, the sound of his gritted teeth was audible. He turned back to Consort Yin and snarled a question in a foreign tongue. A flash of steel—and the head of a nearby serving girl tumbled to the ground.
The women screamed in unison. Wei Shufen stepped back, mustering her courage, and said in a trembling voice:"Don't kill me... I know where the Supreme Emperor is... I'll take you there..." #####This chapter includes images of Tang Dynasty furniture. Please visit the author's Weibo to view them. Search for the ID "Tang Dynasty Tour Guide Forest Deer" on Sina Weibo. Welcome to discuss.
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