pertwk Chapter 883: Eliminate the assassins and secure the inner courtyard!
Chapter 883: Eliminate the assassins and secure the inner courtyard!
The candlelight in the hall still flickered, illuminating the blood and corpses on the ground, illuminating Lu Zhi's pale face with its changing expression, and illuminating the blue-gray clothes of the people in blue, which seemed to absorb the light. The night was far from over.
"Qingyi Society, Di Zi No. 1, Xuanwu, greets the mistress. Under the king's orders, I am here to secretly protect the mistress. As the assassin remains, please leave the palace for the time being. Qingyi Society will protect her safety."
The flickering candlelight in the room illuminated the determined faces of the newcomers. The leading young man knelt on one knee, his voice deep but clear, each word carrying undeniable power. He wore a dark cyan tunic with dark cloud patterns embroidered along the lapels, and a narrow curved sword at his waist. His movements made virtually no sound, clearly a testament to the exceptional training he had received.
Lü Zhi's heartbeat hadn't yet subsided, but when she heard the word "Your Majesty," she immediately understood that this was Gao Yao's arrangement. Without hesitation, she nodded, "In that case, thank you all for your help."
Several members of the Qingyi Society quickly formed a protective formation, two leading the way, three covering the rear, protecting Lü Zhi in the middle. Xuanwu stayed close to Lü Zhi's side, his eyes scanning the surroundings with the vigilance of a hawk. They didn't go through the main entrance, but instead pushed open a hidden compartment and entered a narrow, secret passage—a design Gao Yao had specially commissioned when constructing the Prime Minister's Mansion, and even Lü Zhi was new to it.
The secret passage was dark and damp, with only the faint glow of the night-shining pearl in Xuanwu's hand. Lü Zhi couldn't help but ask, "When did you sneak into the palace?"
Xuanwu replied in a low voice, "My lady, the king had us placed in the palace before he left the capital. There are twelve of us in the Di group. We usually disguise ourselves as servants, gardeners, or guards, just to protect my lady in times of crisis."
Lü Zhi was shocked, and she couldn't help but feel a chill at Gao Yao's foresight, but she also felt a sense of relief. It turned out that he had already laid out a backup plan, and even she was kept in the dark.
Meanwhile, the Xianyang Palace was in chaos. After the remaining assassins had stormed into Lü Zhi's chambers and found nothing, they scrambled through the palace like headless flies. The harem consisted mostly of helpless maids and eunuchs. Screams rang out, and the stench of blood filled the night air. Fortunately, the unusual situation at the east gate had caught the attention of patrolling guards, who rushed into the harem to encircle and eliminate the assassins.
Under the protection of the Qingyi Society, Lü Zhi emerged from the secret passageway and arrived at a secluded courtyard. This was usually where the lower-ranking maids rested during their shifts, and the furnishings were simple and unremarkable. Xuanwu carefully inspected the courtyard and indicated it was safe, "Madam, please rest here for the time being. This place shouldn't be a target for assassins."
Sitting on the simple wooden couch, Lü Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, before she could even catch her breath, her heart began to hang in the balance again. She wasn't the only one in the harem; Gao Yao's other wives and children also existed. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have cared much about whether these women lived or died, and might even have welcomed the outcome.
But now that Gao Yao was away, she was in charge of the overall situation. If there were heavy casualties in the harem, she would be blamed. Especially since Yu Shu was not responsible for this matter, but the power fell entirely on her shoulders. If something went wrong, not only would her position be in jeopardy, but she would also likely incur Gao Yao's wrath.
"Xuanwu," Lü Zhi suddenly spoke, "Send two people to inquire about the other ladies' situation, especially the safety of the young master and the other ladies. Make sure they are all safe."
Xuanwu was slightly surprised, but immediately followed the order: "Di San, Di Si, go investigate the situation and report back within half a minute."
The wait seemed incredibly long. Lü Zhi fidgeted restlessly, her ears occasionally filled with distant cries of battle. She couldn't help but recall Gao Yao's words before leaving the capital: "Lü Zhi, Xianyang may appear peaceful, but undercurrents are surging. Upon arrival, you will be responsible for coordinating arrangements and don't let me down." At the time, she had taken them as ordinary advice, but now she understood their deeper meaning.
Half a quarter of an hour later, two blue-clad guards reported back: most of the ladies and children had been escorted to a safe place, but Xiaoyue and her two children were missing. It was said that they were last seen heading towards the Imperial Garden.
Lü Zhi's face changed. Xiaoyue was one of Gao Yao's most favored concubines, and the twins were the apple of his eye. If anything happened to them... Lü Zhi didn't dare to think about it anymore.
"Xuanwu, take me to the imperial garden." Lu Zhi stood up resolutely.
"Madam, it's too dangerous outside now..."
"No need to say more!" Lü Zhi interrupted him. "If anything happens to Yu Ji and the children, neither you nor I can bear the consequences. Besides..." A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "Since the assassin is coming for me, they might use them as bait to lure me out. Instead of passively waiting, it's better to take the initiative."
Seeing this, Xuanwu stopped trying to dissuade him and rearranged the guard formation: "Digit Five, Digit Six, you go ahead and explore the way. Digit Seven to Digit Ten, guard the left and right wings. The rest of you, follow me to protect the mistress."
The group moved silently through the palace corridors. The closer they got to the Imperial Garden, the clearer the sounds of fighting became. Suddenly, a child's cry reached them from the front. Lü Zhi quickened her pace. She saw Xiaoyue, crouching in a crevice beside a rockery, holding two children. Three assassins were closing in on her, and the two guards protecting her lay in a pool of blood.
"Do it!" Lu Zhi said sternly.
Members of the Qingyi Society leaped out like ghosts, their scimitars slicing icy arcs in the moonlight. The assassin, caught off guard by so many experts, quickly fell into disarray. Xuanwu, shielding Lü Zhi, repelled two attackers without even drawing his blade.
However, at this moment, a cold arrow flew through the air and shot straight at Lu Zhi's face! Xuanwu suddenly drew his sword and cut off the arrow, shouting, "There is an ambush! Protect the mistress!"
More assassins emerged from the darkness, clearly a trap set for Lü Zhi. Although the members of the Qingyi Society were exceptionally skilled, they were outnumbered and gradually surrounded. At this critical moment, the sound of orderly footsteps and the clashing of armor could be heard in the distance.
"Li Zhao is late! Protect the emperor!" An angry roar sounded like thunder.
Li Zhao led a large number of imperial guards into the Imperial Gardens. Archers seized the commanding heights, and infantry advanced in formation, instantly turning the tide of battle. Seeing their situation hopeless, the assassins committed suicide by biting their poison sacs, and the few who remained were captured alive.
Li Zhao quickly came to Lu Zhi and knelt on one knee: "My lady, Li Zhao is late in protecting you. Please forgive me!" His armor was stained with blood, and it was obvious that he had been through a hard battle.
Lü Zhi looked at him, her mind clear as a mirror: This assassination was no simple matter. For over a hundred assassins to have been able to sneak into the Xianyang Palace without a trace, there must have been an insider within the court. And Li Zhao, as the chief officer in charge of Xianyang's defense, was undoubtedly to blame. But now was not the time to pursue the issue; she needed to stabilize the situation first.
"General Li, please stand up," Lü Zhi said calmly. "Our top priority is to eliminate the remaining enemies, treat the wounded, and strengthen the palace defenses. These assassins were able to infiltrate the palace, so they must have had accomplices. Please investigate thoroughly."