GBP Chapter 513 Assassination in the Palace
Chapter 513 Assassination in the Palace
When the ginkgo leaves from the side hall filled the courtyard, Shi Wanxia was finally able to walk slowly down the entire corridor without any support.
However, the old wound on my chest still aches faintly on rainy days, and every deep breath feels like fine needles pricking my internal organs.
Choi Ji-ho's left arm splint has been removed, but he still can't fully straighten it. His wrist trembles when he holds a pen, and he has to stop after writing only a few words. The injuries on his legs also cause him to break out in a cold sweat if he walks too fast.
Early that morning, just as dawn was breaking, Yu Heng arrived with palace maids and eunuchs, followed by a young eunuch carrying a soft couch and Physician Li carrying a medicine chest.
"Lord Shi, Lord Cui,"
Yu Heng bowed respectfully, his tone tinged with urgency.
"His Majesty has decreed that the three gentlemen must immediately accompany this old servant to the Golden Palace to discuss important matters."
"The imperial physician has prepared pain-relieving herbal medicine and emergency acupuncture needles. This old servant has also brought a soft couch, so you two can rest whenever you are tired."
Shi Wanxia had just finished a bowl of warm, nourishing herbal soup when she heard this and tried to stand up. Cui Zhihao quickly reached out to support her, his fingertips touching her slightly cool wrist, and asked softly, "Does your chest hurt? Do you want to take some painkillers first?"
Shi Wanxia shook her head, using his strength to steady herself, and straightened her light purple official robes—newly bestowed by His Majesty, the fabric was soft, but it still couldn't hide her slender figure.
"No need, we can hold out until the court session."
She looked up at Yu Heng, "Where's Lin Yiyu? Should we bring him too?"
"Lord Lin is already waiting at the palace gate,"
Yu Heng replied with a smile, "This old servant will help you to the soft couch first. The palace is far away; walking there would be tiring."
Cui Zhihao waved his hand, his gaze falling on Shi Wanxia's pale face: "No need for the soft couch, I'll help her walk."
"Take it slow, you'll get there eventually."
He knew that Shi Wanxia was stubborn and, even though her injuries hadn't fully healed, she didn't want to appear weak in front of the officials. Moreover, since His Majesty had summoned her today, she wanted to stand tall even more.
Shi Wanxia felt a warmth in her heart and took a step forward following his strength. She had only taken two steps when a dull pain came from her chest. She couldn't help but frown and pause.
Choi Jihoo immediately slowed down, gently supporting her waist with his palm, and said in a very low voice, "If it hurts, just say so, don't force yourself."
"fine."
The group walked towards the palace road. The morning light shone through the gaps in the palace walls, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs.
Lin Yiyu was already waiting at the palace gate. When he saw them coming, he hurriedly went to greet them. His gaze swept over Shi Wanxia's pale lips, and he frowned and said, "Why don't you sit on the soft couch? You look so pale. You probably can't make it this far."
"fine,"
Shi Wanxia shook her head, and was about to speak when she suddenly coughed, pressing one hand tightly to her chest, her shoulders shaking from the cough.
Cui Zhihao panicked and quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, holding it to her lips. Seeing a trace of light red blood on the handkerchief, his face instantly darkened: "Imperial Physician Li! Quickly give her acupuncture to relieve the pain!"
Physician Li had already prepared the silver needles. He quickly stepped forward, selected acupoints on Shi Wanxia's tiger's mouth and shoulders, and swiftly inserted them.
The moment the silver needles entered her body, Shi Wanxia's cough gradually stopped, but her face became even paler. Leaning against Cui Zhihao's chest, she said weakly, "Don't worry, it's just an old ailment, it'll be fine in a bit."
Choi Ji-ho held her hand, his knuckles turning white, his eyes filled with tenderness.
This "old ailment" is a lingering effect of the palm strike from Chuzhou. Whenever he experiences emotional fluctuations or gets tired, he coughs up blood. Doctor Li said that it would take at least a year and a half to fully recover.
"Let's go, don't keep His Majesty waiting."
Shi Wanxia took a deep breath, straightened up, and with Cui Zhihao's help, slowly walked forward.
The guards stood ramrod straight on both sides of the palace road, and the wind blew the flags on the palace walls, making a "fluttering" sound.
Just as they reached the middle of the palace road, about half a mile from the Golden Palace, Cui Zhihao suddenly stopped, his eyes scanning the adjacent corridor warily: "Who's there?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a dozen masked men in black suddenly sprang out of the shadows of the corridor, wielding poisoned short blades, and charged straight at them! The leader of the men in black had fierce eyes and a clear target, heading straight for Shi Wanxia and Cui Zhihao!
"An assassin! Protect Lord Shi!"
Yu Heng turned pale with fright and hurriedly summoned his accompanying guards. However, the men in black were extremely fast and clearly well-trained assassins; the guards were unable to stop them at all.
Before long, two guards fell to the ground, short blades embedded in their chests, black blood spilling from the corners of their mouths—the poison on the blades was extremely potent!
"Wanwan! Watch out!"
Cui Zhihao shielded Shi Wanxia behind him. Although he couldn't use his left arm, he still drew the sword from his waist and blocked the first blow from the man in black.
The moment the blades clashed, his old wound on his left arm was aggravated, causing him to groan in pain. His wrist trembled, and he almost dropped his sword.
Looking at his pale face, Lin Yiyu felt a sudden surge of anxiety replace the pain in his chest. He took out a silver needle from his pocket, aimed it at the black-clad man at the front, and flicked his finger, sending the silver needle piercing straight into the man's brow!
But the man in black reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side, and then thrusting his short blade toward Shi Wanxia's chest!
"do not want!"
With a roar, Cui Zhihao ignored the excruciating pain in his left arm and forcefully twisted the sword to block Shi Wanxia.
The short blade sliced through his arm, and blood instantly seeped out, soaking through his official robes.
Even more terrifying, the poison on the blade took effect quickly, and his arm began to turn black at a visible speed, causing him to tremble with pain.
"Brother Cui!"
Shi Wanxia's eyes were bloodshot as she tried to rush forward, but she was entangled by another man in black.
She had no weapon and could only rely on the self-defense techniques she had learned to dodge. However, the old wound on her chest was aggravated, and every time she dodged, it felt like she was going to cough up her internal organs. Before long, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Lin Yiyu's right arm, which was in a sling, was still unable to exert any force, so he could only use his left hand to grip the sword and barely block the attacks from the two men in black.
But he only had one hand, and he was quickly at a disadvantage. He was slashed on the back, and blood flowed freely.
"Who sent you?!"
As Shi Wanxia dodged, she screamed. Looking at the black blood on Cui Zhihao's arm and the wound on Lin Yiyu's back, her heart ached as if it were on fire.
These people were clearly after them; their moves were ruthless, and they had even used potent poison—they clearly intended to kill them!
The leader of the men in black sneered, his voice hoarse: "His Highness Prince Rongyang has decreed that anyone who ruins His Highness's great cause shall die! And His Highness the Crown Prince, you will not leave here alive today either!"
Prince Rongyang!
Shi Wanxia's heart sank—they thought that Prince Rongyang was imprisoned in the imperial prison and couldn't cause any trouble.
Little did they expect that he had so many assassins hiding in the capital! And their target was Shen Yanzhou!
Just then, a hurried voice came from afar, accompanied by Shen Yanzhou's angry roar: "Traitor! How dare you commit violence on the palace road! You're courting death!"
Shen Yanzhou, dressed in silver-white armor and wielding a long spear, led a troop of imperial guards at breakneck speed.
The Imperial Guards were well-trained and quickly surrounded the men in black. Amidst the flashing swords and the screams of the men in black, their cries echoed one after another.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the leader of the men in black tried to rush over and die together with Shi Wanxia, but Shen Yanzhou pierced his chest with a spear, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.
Shen Yanzhou dismounted and rushed to Cui Zhihao's side. Seeing that Cui's arm was black and his face was pale, he said urgently, "Imperial Physician Li! Quickly, give Lord Cui an antidote!"
Physician Li was already so frightened that his legs went weak. He quickly got up, took out some antidote ointment and silver needles from his medicine box, first gave Cui Zhihao a few needle pricks to stop the poisoning, and then applied the ointment to his wound.
But the poison was too potent, and Cui Zhihao's consciousness began to blur. Leaning against Shi Wanxia's chest, he whispered weakly, "Wanwan... don't worry... I'm alright..."