Hua Zhu Yu continued to calmly walk forward, as though she didn’t see the flashing glint from the dadao and weapons. Once the assailant could no longer change his course was the moment Hua Zhu Yu swiftly evaded the attack. Not only the dadao that was aiming towards her but even the countless darts flying towards her had all struck the ground behind her.
“If you wanted to attack, it’s better to just come out and fight.” Hua Zhu Yu started to chuckle as she held a dart between her two fingers, beneath the hazy moonlight it exuded a cold shine.
A figure emerged from behind a tree wielding a wandao. The figure and wandao fused into one and aimed towards Hua Zhu Yu. The wandaoexuded a bright gleam like snow, and came approaching in an instant. From within the forest, another five or six figures emerged and surrounded Hua Zhu Yu.
Hua Zhu Yu coldly sneered, and in the blink of an eyes, the dart in her hand flew out to greet the lightning fast wandao and the hand on her waist slowly unsheathed the sword from its scabbard. The sword radiated a bright shear, reflecting her clear eyes laced with iciness.
A fierce battle ensued.
The figure collapsed one after the other and in the end, only Hua Zhu Yu was left standing motionlessly amongst the pile of corpse.
She pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeves and gently wiped the blood off her sword. She then inspected her clothes. She was careful so her clothes weren’t too soiled with blood.
Her gaze them swept over the bodies on the ground as a cold sneer surfaced on her lips.
She didn’t know who had sent these people but she did know these people were all assassins. Each move was swift and precise, with no fancy movement. Every stroke was full of killing intent. When they were defeated, they showed no fear nor begged for forgiveness. Instead, they took poison and committed suicide. Even if she wanted to leave one alive to question she wasn’t able to.
She had acted cautiously yet she had attracted someone’s attention so soon already? It appears the forthcoming road was fraught with endless dangers.
Reclining against a couch, Huangfu Wu Shuang gazed at Hua Zhu Yu who was adorned in a black servant attire, as dark as the gloomy night outside.
Last night, when she did not return together with him, he thought her leaving was also good, lest he strangled her to death while he was seething with rage. At that time, he was truly furious, but when he realized she wasn’t coming back, he felt an uncomfortable sense of loss.
But seeing her now standing so calmly in front of him, he felt an impulse to strangle her to death.
“Yesterday, this servant lost and had no face to see Your Highness so this servant wandered along the streets for a while but did not imagine this servant would wander so far. Not to mention, this servant is already disabled, with no place to go, only by staying by Your Highness’s side can this servant live well.” Hua Zhu Yu said in a light tone as she silently stood in front of Huangfu Wu Shuang.
With eyes slightly closed, her long lashes swept down like a fan, concealing her glistening eyes, making her appear more gentle.
Huangfu Wu Shuang’s face turned solemn as his pupils shrank. He finally let out a cold humph and asked, “Yuan Bao, you didn’t deliberately let this prince lose did you?”
“No! This servant truly wanted to assist Your Highness, but this servant could not imagine it would turn out like this!” Hua Zhu Yu lifted her head to gaze at Huangfu Wu Shuang with her clear eyes.
Huangfu Wu Shuang stood up and leisurely walked back and forth. Then he abruptly turned around and stood in front of Hua Zhu Yu. Just as he was about to strike, Jixiang entered with folded arms to report, “Your Highness, the horse carriage has been prepared!”
Huangfu Wu Shuang suppressed the burning rage within and coldly said, “Great, return to the capital at once. Once back we’ll continue discussing.”
He flung his sleeves and quickly strode downstairs.
Jixiang followed suit and when he passed by Hua Zhu Yu, he waved his hands at her before letting out a long sigh and said, “Not quickly coming!”
Hua Zhu Yu’s lips curled up in a smile. If not for Jixiang’s intrusion, she was afraid Huangfu Wu Shuang wouldn’t have spared her.
The journey back to the capital was very smooth. They headed straight back on one road and ten days later they had arrived in Yu City.
Their journey to Jiangbei and back took over a month’s time.
The horse carriage leisurely drove down Zhu Que Street. The roadside was a sight of greeneries, full of blossoming purple flora, exuding a soft calming fragrance. Though the journey was tiring, no one felt excited upon returning to Yu City. Especially Hua Zhu Yu and Huangfu Wu Shuang who felt very tense amidst a heavy pressure.
The master wasn’t happy, so the servants were no exception. Along the journey back, not a single sound came out of the guards, only the clattering of the carriage along the street could be heard.
From afar, the palace gates could be seen. Southern Kingdom’s palace was covered in glazed roof tiles of all sorts of color. Beneath the noon sunlight, the tiles emitted a bright shimmer, displaying its magnificence and grandeur.
Upon returning to Eastern Palace, Huangfu Wu Shuang had yet to bathe when Chang gong gong, the personal eunuch and confidant of the Emperor came to announce that His Majesty the Emperor would like Huangfu Wu Shuang to come meet him in the imperial courtyard.
Though Hua Zhu Yu have yet to see this Chang gong gong, she could not forget, on that night of her wedding to Ji Feng Li, he was the one that came to pass on the decree, forcing her to marry off to the Northern Kingdom.