When Cheng Hao was rescued, he was completely exhausted and fainted on the spot. The two black - clothed villains fled quickly at the news, and none of them was caught.
Chun Juan, the maid beside Concubine Shu, had timely gone to invite Noble Consort Rong. Now she had rushed here to Bixin Lake with everyone in a hurry.
When Noble Consort Rong heard that the Fifth Princess had been attacked and fallen into the water, and her life or death was still unknown, her face showed a bit of anxiety. She had just seen off the Fourth Prince during the day. If something happened to the Fifth Princess at night, the emperor would surely be extremely worried.
Seeing Concubine Shu still searching for someone in the water in a hurry, Noble Consort Rong said angrily in a cold voice, "Concubine Shu, get out of the water quickly and go back to change your clothes! What kind of propriety is this?!" After all, she was the emperor's concubine. Even though she was eager to save people at the moment, soaking in the water with a group of imperial guards would surely invite gossips! How could she be so lacking in propriety?
Concubine Shu didn't care about the cold all over her body. She searched back and forth in the water several times but still found nothing. At this moment, her heart was filled with grief. Hearing Noble Consort Rong scolding her like this, she had no choice but to climb out of the water reluctantly and go back to change her clothes.
Young Master Yu had privately repeatedly told her that Wei Dongling was his life! He asked her to protect the Fifth Princess at all costs! Although Concubine Shu felt sour in her heart, she had long known that after entering the palace, there was no possibility of standing by his side. She was just a pawn after all!
She envied Wei Dongling for being loved whole - heartedly by Yu Zixi. That was a longing that she had hidden in her heart but could never achieve in this lifetime. Apart from fulfilling his wish and doing her best to help him protect Wei Dongling, what else could she do?
But the Fifth Princess seemed to be haunted by bad luck. Since she entered the palace, she had never had a moment of peace! All kinds of forces were eyeing her covetously, attacking her both openly and secretly. She was like a moving target! One careless moment and she would be seriously injured. It was really impossible to stop!
Chun Juan saw that her mistress Concubine Shu was cold all over and her face was full of bitterness. She said with concern, "Don't be sad. We've done our best." Her mistress had her menstrual period today and was especially afraid of the cold, yet she still jumped into the water desperately to search for someone. She had to go back quickly and have a good recuperation, or else she might get ill - effects.
Concubine Shu's eyes were red, and she choked with sobs, "She doesn't act like a princess at all. In times of danger, instead of running away, she tried her best to protect me." If she had been greedy for life and afraid of death, Concubine Shu might have secretly mocked Yu Zixi's poor taste.
But she was poor at martial arts and had a strong personality. Seeing Concubine Shu being tightly held by Murong Yunqian, she ignored her own injuries and tried her best to assassinate the enemy to save her. Concubine Shu suddenly understood why Young Master Yu was so deeply in love with this seemingly under - developed girl.
Wei Dongling got angry: What's wrong with my flat chest? How can I pacify the world if my chest is not flat? Whoever laughs at me in the future, I'll get angry with them!
Chun Juan said unhappily, "It's her fault. Isn't it supposed to be like this?"
Concubine Shu didn't say more. She hurriedly took Chun Juan back to change her clothes. She knew that with such a commotion, the emperor would surely come in person to find out the reason. The Fifth Princess's life or death was still unknown. She had to change her clothes quickly and come out to testify against the murderer!
It was just getting dawn. The Inner Court Department traced the dead body in Yaoguang Pavilion all the way to Bixin Lake.
By this time, Cheng Hao had been treated by the imperial doctor who stopped the bleeding and bandaged his wounds. After being given acupuncture, he slowly regained consciousness.
The emperor and Eunuch Cao came after hearing the news. Seeing all the people kneeling on the ground, the emperor angrily questioned Plum Blossom, "What on earth is going on? Can't you even protect the Fifth Princess?"
Plum Blossom knelt on the ground, trembling like a sieve. She kowtowed and replied, "Your Majesty! The Fifth Princess claimed that someone would break into the palace to steal tonight and ordered us to take turns on duty. It was peaceful in the first half of the night! Who would have known that in the second half of the night, four masked men with long knives climbed over the wall. They didn't say a word and just started hacking people with their knives! They killed several eunuchs and maids on the spot, and the blood flowed all over the place! Your servant opened the door and fled, trying to shout for someone to come and save the princess. Who would have thought that someone attacked me from behind. If it weren't for the Fifth Princess saving me in time, your servant might have..." Just thinking of that scene made Plum Blossom's legs go weak. If it weren't for the Fifth Princess using hidden weapons, she would surely have been hacked to death on the spot!
The emperor glanced at Cheng Hao, who was still in a mess and wearing a skirt. The dense wounds all over his body were shocking. His face was swollen, and the emperor could barely recognize him after a careful look. The emperor said angrily, "As the princess's personal guard, you couldn't even protect her?"
Cheng Hao trembled and lay on the ground. He said with tears and pain, "Your Majesty, the Fifth Princess has some evidence in her hand. She knew that someone would come to kill her tonight to silence her, so she told this humble servant in advance to dress up as a woman and replace her in the bedroom. This humble servant was fully concentrated and didn't dare to sleep for a moment! Until three masked killers broke into the door and took this humble servant for the Fifth Princess, hacking at this humble servant with their knives. This humble servant fought with them until now! Your Majesty, the villains are so vicious. This humble servant was unarmed and failed to protect the Fifth Princess. It is really this humble servant's fault! If the Fifth Princess can't be found, this humble servant is willing to follow her to the death!" If he couldn't protect Wei Dongling well, how could he have the face to go back and see his brother Jingzhe?
Seeing Cheng Hao, this tough - minded man with red eyes, all the people in Yaoguang Pavilion couldn't help sobbing softly. Although this man didn't look very good, he was quite honest. He served both as a male companion and a guard. If something happened to the princess, he was even willing to follow her. It was really touching!
Cheng Hao: I'm not her male companion!
Unarmed? The emperor's face darkened. Carrying weapons was indeed prohibited in the palace. He wondered if Cheng Hao's words were actually a condemnation while seemingly admitting his mistake.
The emperor's face was ashen. He was both angry and regretful. He was angry because his daughter had said yesterday during the funeral that she had evidence. He had planned to investigate this matter in detail after dawn today, but he never expected that someone couldn't even wait for one night and couldn't wait to attack her!
He regretted that yesterday Murong Wanlin had pleaded with him so much to severely punish the murderer, but he had suppressed the unrest among the officials for the sake of the overall situation and completely ignored his daughter's safety! And Wanlin was so stubborn. Knowing that there would be danger at night, she still didn't come to ask for his protection as a father! She must be disappointed in him, right?
The emperor felt a sharp pain in his heart. He couldn't help shouting at Commander Fang, "How did she fall into the water? Haven't you found her yet?"
Commander Fang quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, this humble servant has sent people to search this whole area thoroughly, but there is no sign of the Fifth Princess!"
The emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Send more people. You must find her for me!" Although his daughter was a good swimmer, it had been so long and she still hadn't been found. This made him gradually feel anxious. May God bless! She must be safe!
"Yes!" Commander Fang took the order and arranged for more people.
Concubine Shu, who had changed her clothes, stood up and said with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty! This concubine has seen the murderer's appearance with her own eyes! Please severely punish the murderer!"
The emperor turned around in surprise and asked, "When the Fifth Princess was in danger, you were also here? Quickly tell me who that person is?"