[What a fool!]
Ling Shan: "?"
A cold, howling gale suddenly whistled by, just grazing Ling Shan's right ear. With a thud, it was embedded in a nearby pillar.
Ling Shan felt a chill run down her spine.
Even her small struggles weakened. Her almond - shaped eyes widened in shock.
She stared straight at the still - quivering arrowhead and silently compared.
If she hadn't been yanked away...
The arrow quivering in front of her eyes would have pierced through her neck from behind and pinned her to the pillar. Just imagining that scene...
Ling Shan couldn't help but shudder.
The feeling of being on the brink of death was so vivid.
It was so vivid that every inch of her skin and every organ in her body was screaming: She had to leave!
Leave this god - forsaken place!
In the casual strife among the powerful, it was always small fry like her who ended up as cannon fodder.
Ling Shan had neither the ability nor the saintly heart to care about others.
But for herself, she would never be a sacrificial lamb!
"Scared stupid?"
Jun Wuyuan tilted his head slightly and leaned in. His breath tickled her ear, making Ling Shan's skin crawl.
The heart that had been in her throat dropped suddenly. Ling Shan instinctively turned her head.
Her big, round almond eyes met his smiling, seemingly amorous peach - blossom eyes.
Thump.
Her heart skipped a beat, then quickly calmed down.
[Does this fool even fear death? That's rather strange.]
Ling Shan: "..."
She muttered in her heart: Dude, this is a matter of life and death. What's so strange about it?
Only then did she realize that she was half - encircled in Jun Wuyuan's arms.
A searing heat came from her back, and the strong scent of ambergris surrounded her completely.
"Your Majesty? Are you alright?"
Ling Shan quietly turned around to avoid him. Her almond eyes were filled with deep concern.
"Your humble servant is not worthy... Your Majesty actually noticed and saved your servant at the risk of your own safety. Your servant is so touched that I don't know what to say..."
Tearfully pretending to be touched, Ling Shan just wanted to get away quickly. Staying so close to Jun Wuyuan was just asking to be a target!
As a lowly palace maid, she really didn't want to draw the attention of the assassins at this moment.
Especially when Ling Shan noticed from the corner of her eye that there were more and more assassins on the high platform.
The defenses of the Feathered Forest Guards and the Golden Guard had already been breached. Not to mention the departure of the Queen Mother and the Grand Tutor, which had inadvertently exposed Jun Wuyuan, the so - called tyrant.
No matter how good the defenses were, they couldn't withstand the disloyalty of the guards.
Compared to the legitimate emperor, they knew who their real master was.
"Don't worry. I know you're timid. Don't be afraid. Stay by my side, and you'll be safe."
Jun Wuyuan half - smiled as he accepted Ling Shan's gratitude and kindly reassured her.
Ling Shan almost froze the grateful smile on her face. She really wanted to say:
No, she really didn't need this kind of reassurance!
But she couldn't say it.
Seeing the assassins getting closer and even Liang Jiusi being entangled, Ling Shan panicked.
Die now or struggle on for a few more days?
Ling Shan naturally chose...
"Stay here. Don't run around. Otherwise, if you lose your life..."
[I won't bury you!]
Ling Shan: "..."
"Your Majesty, there are too many assassins. The Feathered Forest Guards are struggling. Please follow us and retreat first."
Ling Shan's attempt to sneak away stopped. If Jun Wuyuan was escorted away, she wouldn't have to run alone.
"I, the emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, am no coward!"
Jun Wuyuan's image as a tyrant was always grand and imposing, now with an added aura of dignity.
"The Feathered Forest Guards are my elite troops. They are still fighting bravely and patriotically. Although I'm not well - versed in great principles, I will never abandon any of them."
Cheng An, a Feathered Forest Guard guarding Jun Wuyuan's side, still had fresh blood on his face.
Hearing this, his eyes welled up with tears.
Even he, and the other loyal Feathered Forest Guards who were still willing to fight to the death, had never thought this way.
They were just acting out of the patriotism deeply ingrained in their bones, not for Jun Wuyuan himself.
But at this moment.
Cheng An's heart was filled with the passion to serve the emperor until death.
Learning both civil and military skills to serve the emperor.
"Your Majesty..." Cheng An said, his eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
Ling Shan had no doubt that if Jun Wuyuan told him to die right now, he would do it without hesitation.
Drama king.
Scheming dog!
[It's time to end this show. The Wang family has suffered a great loss this time. Just imagining the old hag and the old fool spitting blood in anger is really amusing.]
Ling Shan's urge to escape stopped.
What did that mean?
She quietly glanced up and only saw Jun Wuyuan's outstanding profile.
A strange glint flashed in his amorous peach - blossom eyes, hinting at deep - seated schemes.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Ling Shan's mind, and she became completely awake.
She understood.
She understood everything.
No wonder.
No wonder.
All the doubts that had been bothering Ling Shan all day were finally answered at this moment.
The Queen Mother's odd behavior, the provocation during the dragon - boat race, and this seemingly coincidental assassination...
Everything was part of Jun Wuyuan's plan. This assassination was premeditated.
Jun Wuyuan had done it on purpose.
He deliberately used this assassination to eliminate his political enemies, annoy the Wang family, and at the same time, gain the loyalty of his ministers.
It was really killing three birds with one stone.
Looking at it this way, the assassination and the bloody death didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
Even Ling Shan got bold and started to have an idea.
This was such a perfect opportunity, tailor - made for her!
Wasn't the plot of saving the emperor in those novels and ancient - costume dramas she had watched a great way to improve their relationship?
Ling Shan decided to act right away and began to observe carefully.
Suddenly, a glint flashed in her dark, round almond eyes.
"Your Majesty, watch out!"
Jun Wuyuan, as a tyrant, was no slouch. He had some skills with the sword.
Seeing that the Feathered Forest Guards were unable to hold on and not wanting to flee, he fought bravely with his sword.
After a few skirmishes, he felt something strange.
Suddenly, a familiar scream rang out.
Unexpectedly, a faint, familiar fragrance wafted into his nose, and an unbelievable thought welled up in his mind.
Jun Wuyuan's eyelids twitched.
Before he knew it, a delicate figure had thrown herself in front of him, and a sharp whistling sound followed.
Splat.
The sound of an arrow piercing flesh rang out.
Jun Wuyuan's pupils contracted violently, and his heart skipped a beat.
Why would she do this?