Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 216: Want His Damn Life

As Chu Rui's voice faded, Yun Chu heard the main palace door open, followed by the footsteps of at least seven or eight people.

"Hurry, leave through this door!"

Chu Rui stepped forward to lead the way but stumbled and fell to the ground.

Struggling to rise, he said, "Go, I'll take you."

Ting Xue hurried to support him.

He was truly too weak, having lost too much blood earlier. After just a few steps, he was gasping for breath. Before they could get far, the people from the palace entrance had already arrived.

"So you've hidden here. You there, seize her!" The leader was an old matron. She swiftly moved to Chu Rui's side. "Your Highness, why have you come here? Be careful of the draft."

Two eunuchs came to assist Chu Rui.

The remaining people closed in on Yun Chu and her maid.

"Stop!" Chu Rui roared angrily. "You cannot touch her!"

"Your Highness, her birth chart is a perfect match. Moreover, she is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun family—her life is noble. Her heart's blood will surely cure Your Highness's chronic illness." After persuading her master, the old matron turned a cold, stern gaze toward Yun Chu. "If Miss Yun cooperates, we'll make your death quick. Otherwise..."

Yun Chu's eyes turned icy. "Since you know I'm the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun family, how dare you?"

"Does Miss Yun know what this place is?" The old matron laughed. "Any woman who enters this palace will never leave alive. See those autumn chrysanthemums growing over there? They bloom even more beautifully than the flowers in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Do you know why, Miss Yun? Because they're nourished by the corpses of countless women. How could they not be beautiful?"

A chill ran through Yun Chu's heart.

The old matron was telling her all this because she was certain Yun Chu would die here—dead men tell no tales.

"If Miss Yun's heart's blood can cure our prince, it would be a great merit." The old matron's tone shifted. "What are you all waiting for? Seize her!"

"I'd like to see who dares!"

Chu Rui forced himself to stand straight, shielding Yun Chu.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?" The old matron looked puzzled. "The Empress Dowager isn't just trying to prolong your life—this is part of a greater plan. Don't be willful, Your Highness."

Yun Chu instantly understood.

She had been mistaken before. This scheme was far-reaching.

Now that the Yun family was in trouble, if the legitimate eldest daughter died deep within the palace, the Yun family would not let it rest. The Yun Family Army would riot.

By framing the Yun family for rebellion, the Empress Dowager would temporarily gain the upper hand against the Emperor.

She had become a pawn in the power struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Chu Rui's expression darkened. "Whoever dares lay a finger on Miss Yun, I'll have his damn life."

The old matron smiled faintly. "Just a few worthless lives. If Your Highness wants them, so be it. It's windy outside. Someone, take His Highness away."

Without another word, the two eunuchs forcibly escorted Chu Rui away.

Weak from illness, Chu Rui was no match for them.

Watching the crowd inch closer, Yun Chu involuntarily stepped back.

Steadying her nerves, she placed the long sword she had taken from Prince Zhuang into Ting Xue's hands, then drew the short sword hidden in her sleeve.

"It seems Miss Yun insists on resisting." The old matron sneered contemptuously. "Hurry up, all of you. Be careful not to damage Miss Yun's heart."

Several palace servants rushed forward rapidly.

Ting Xue charged out, gripping the long sword.

She stabbed it into the abdomen of a eunuch in front of her.Ting Xue gritted her teeth.

Even in death, she would take one down with her to ease her young mistress's burden.

A eunuch nearby raised a long blade and swung it toward the back of Ting Xue's neck.

A sharp glint flashed in Yun Chu's eyes.

She kicked out, sending the attacking eunuch flying, then pulled Ting Xue close to protect her.

But then she saw a matron holding a large rock charging toward her face.

Yun Chu was busy dealing with four or five eunuchs in front of her and had no way to dodge. She watched as the rock hurtled straight toward her face.

Suddenly!

Warm blood splattered across her face.

At the same time, the large rock fell to the ground, followed by the matron collapsing, her eyes wide open, already devoid of life.

Before Yun Chu could process what had happened, she saw the young eunuchs fall one by one, each with a fatal cut across their necks.

She turned around and saw Chu Yi rushing toward her.

"Yun Chu, where are you hurt?"

Chu Yi's voice trembled slightly.

Seeing her face covered in crimson blood, he forgot all propriety in his panic and called her by her name directly.

Yun Chu wiped the blood that belonged to others from her face and shook her head. "I'm not injured."

"P-Prince Pingxi!" The leading matron standing nearby stared in shock. "This is a forbidden area of the palace! How dare Your Highness trespass? This old servant must report to His Majesty!"

Chu Yi's lips curled into a cold smile. "If I kill you, who will know I was ever here?"

The matron clearly saw the murderous intent in his eyes and instantly lost her nerve. "This old servant has long served Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Your Highness should think carefully before— Ahhh!!"

Before she could finish, she let out a painful scream and collapsed to the ground, writhing.

She wasn't dead.

But both her arms had been severed from the shoulders by Chu Yi.

Blood flowed like a river.

Yun Chu's eyes were covered by a scorching, calloused palm.

She heard Chu Yi speak. "I'll spare your life for now. Crawl back and tell the Empress Dowager this is far from over."

The matron howled from the depths of her throat, crushing a large patch of chrysanthemums.

Chu Yi removed his hand from Yun Chu's eyes, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry. If I had realized earlier, you wouldn't have had to endure this."

Yun Chu asked curiously, "How did Your Highness get here so quickly?"

Although much had happened, it had only been about fifteen minutes. The chrysanthemum banquet likely hadn't officially begun yet, meaning no one should have noticed her absence for now.

That this man had found her so quickly truly exceeded her expectations.

That he had killed seven or eight of the Empress Dowager's trusted aides and severed the arms of her most trusted matron for her sake also went beyond what she had anticipated.

"If the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review needed to find me, he would never send a eunuch from the inner palace to deliver the message," Chu Yi explained. "Moreover, given my notorious reputation, most people in the palace would hide at the sight of me rather than approach me voluntarily. That eunuch who led the way talked far too much."

In truth, he had been foolish—only after parting with Yun Chu did he notice the irregularities.

Yun Chu suddenly understood.

It seemed her judgment wasn't sharp enough. She had only realized something was wrong at the critical moment and nearly lost her life.

Chu Yi, heart aching over what she had just endured, said gently, "Let me take you back.""No need." Yun Chu shook her head. "Attending Her Majesty the Empress's flower appreciation banquet as promised and appearing there completely unharmed would be the best response to the Empress Dowager. I'll just have to trouble Your Highness to find me a set of clothes."

Chu Yi understood her thinking.

If she were to hide away after being intimidated by the Empress Dowager, it would mean losing the Yun family's unyielding pride.

She wanted to show the Empress Dowager that while the Yun Family Army stood with unyielding pride, the women of the Yun family were no different.