Chapter 159: Against Etiquette
Chu Yi's gaze fell upon Yun Chu's face.
The night was pitch black, yet her face seemed to glow in the darkness, her two eyes like black gemstones that made it impossible to look away.
Truthfully, this weapon could have been delivered at any time. If he truly couldn't spare the time, he could have had an attendant deliver it to the Xie residence.
Yet he deliberately chose this hour, this location, to summon her deep into the night.
His intentions had long been impossible to conceal.
But he must keep them carefully hidden.
"Look at the right side of the short sword. Is there a raised circular point?"
By the moonlight, Yun Chu indeed saw that small circular point, crafted from a red gemstone. She touched it and found it seemed pressable.
She looked up: "Your Highness, what happens if I press it?"
Chu Yi clearly saw his own reflection in her pupils.
This sensation pleased him.
Unconsciously, the corners of his lips curved upward.
He took two steps toward Yun Chu, then stood facing the lake in the same direction as her.
He reached out and placed his hand on the sword hilt.
When the man's scorching palm approached, Yun Chu couldn't help but startle.
She suddenly realized they were standing far too close.
This was against etiquette.
Before she could move, the man's low, husky voice sounded by her ear: "In this direction, press."
As he spoke, his burning breath brushed against Yun Chu's cheek. Her breath hitched as her thumb pressed downward. With a whoosh, a silver concealed arrow about the length of a little finger shot from the tip of the short sword.
The short arrow instantly pierced the water, and soon after, a dead fish floated to the lake's surface.
Yun Chu was utterly astonished: "How many times can it be pressed?"
Chu Yi replied: "Three times."
Whenever he spoke, his breath fanned her ear, making Yun Chu intensely uncomfortable.
She quickly stepped aside, found an angle to test it, and immediately a second concealed arrow flew from the short sword's tip, embedding itself in a nearby tree trunk.
Yun Chu walked over, wanting to pull out the concealed arrow, but two-thirds of it was buried too deep to remove.
"I've had a case of concealed arrows crafted. They'll be delivered to the Yun residence in a few days." Chu Yi walked over, pulled the concealed arrow from the tree trunk, then slowly reloaded it before handing it back to her. "I hope you never need to use them."
Yun Chu took it, once again unable to refrain from thanking him: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Coming from a military family, she had been exposed to countless weapons since childhood, yet this was her first time seeing such an exquisitely crafted short sword.
Typically, short swords were used for self-defense in close combat, but Prince Pingxi had hidden mechanisms within, allowing for both close and long-range attacks. It focused on catching opponents off guard, easily gaining the upper hand in confrontations.
"Is there anything Your Highness lacks?"
She somewhat regretted not keeping some of that uncarved jade from last time; perhaps she could have made something to give him.
Chu Yi coughed lightly: "If Lady Yun truly wishes to express gratitude, then I entrust the care of the two children to you these next few days. If I'm not mistaken, Yu Ge'er and Changsheng will visit your tent tonight."
This came as no surprise to Yun Chu.
That boy Yu Ge'er had the Empress invite her to Mount Yan precisely because he wanted to cling to her every day.
It was only for these few days anyway, and since something unfortunate was likely to occur, having them with her would offer better protection.
She was about to nod in agreement.
Suddenly, Cheng Xu and Qiutong came rushing over from the distance.
"Your Highness, there are assassins!"
"My Lady, this servant will escort you back to your tent first!"Yun Chu's heart sank.
She never expected the incident from her previous life would occur on the very first night of the hunt.
"Cheng Xu, escort Lady Xie."
Chu Yi left his most capable guard behind and swiftly headed in the direction where the assassins had appeared.
Cheng Xu and Qiutong protected Yun Chu as they quickly returned to the camp.
Chaos had already erupted at the campsite. Many noblewomen and young ladies were pale with fright, while important court officials gathered around the imperial family, encircled by a ring of Imperial Guards.
Yun Chu noticed the two children huddled beside Yin Pin, guarded by a matron, and felt relieved.
"Chu'er, where did you go earlier?" Lin Shi grabbed Yun Chu's hand, "You scared me to death. I thought the assassins had taken you."
"The tent was too stuffy, so I went out for some fresh air," Yun Chu replied. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Mother."
Everyone waited in terror under the night sky for about half an hour before the guards who had pursued the assassins began returning in waves.
Leading them was Prince Pingxi, Chu Yi.
His horse halted before the crowd. He dismounted and approached the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I have captured three assassins alive. Bring them forward!"
The guards behind him dragged forward three tightly bound assassins in black clothing and threw them to the ground.
"Audacious assassins! How dare you attempt to assassinate His Majesty!" The usually virtuous and dignified Empress was furious. She picked up a teacup and smashed it against an assassin's head. "Speak! Who sent you?"
If not for a quick-witted young eunuch who timely heard the commotion, the Emperor might have died at Yan Mountain.
Though his life was spared, his arm had been slashed by an assassin. The Emperor shedding blood was an ill omen for the nation, hence the Empress's extreme rage.
The assassins stubbornly refused to talk.
Prince Gong Xi stepped forward, searched the assassins, and retrieved a token, presenting it with both hands: "Father, please look at this."
At the sight of the token, the Emperor's expression changed dramatically: "Isn't this Old Fourth's token? Where is he? Where is he now?"
"Your Majesty, Old Fourth followed Prince Pingxi to pursue the assassins earlier," Consort De said incredulously. "How could his token end up with the assassins? Something must have happened to him! Your Majesty, send people to find him immediately!"
"Is that so?" Prince Gong Xi interjected, "I haven't seen Old Fourth since nightfall. Fourth Sister-in-law, do you know where Old Fourth went?"
It took Xie Ping a moment to realize Prince Gong Xi was referring to her as "Fourth Sister-in-law."
She hurriedly stepped out from the crowd and replied without thinking: "The Prince left the camp after the hunt ended."
She had only learned from her maid that the Prince had departed in haste, with no knowledge of his destination or purpose. She felt she had failed as a Princess Consort.
She slightly raised her head and met Consort De's angry gaze.
Belatedly, she realized she might have said the wrong thing.
Consort De claimed the Prince had gone after the assassins, while she said he had left long ago...
Prince Gong Xi bowed toward the highest authority: "Father, the urgent matter now is to find Fourth Brother immediately."
The Crown Prince said with a stern face: "Father, please allow me to personally interrogate these assassins."
The Emperor's face showed no extra emotion.
Only the Empress knew he was furious beyond measure.
Since ascending the throne decades ago, the Emperor had never encountered an assassination attempt. Had he remained uninjured, it might have been different, but with bloodshed, this matter could not be lightly dismissed.
Chu Yi led men to search the entire mountain for the whereabouts of Anjing Prince.The Crown Prince and Gong Xi Prince interrogated the three captured assassins in full view of the public.
One of the assassins immediately bit off his own tongue, and if not for Gong Xi Prince's swift reaction, the remaining two would have nearly committed suicide as well.
"You have committed capital crimes and will certainly die, but not so easily."
The Crown Prince clapped his hands, and a eunuch from the Eastern Palace stepped forward, awaiting instructions.
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