After returning home from the birthday banquet, Shen Wan quickly went to sleep.

When I woke up, it was already evening, and the fiery clouds painted the sky in a blazing display.

Kyoto rarely hosts a lantern festival, and Shen Wan couldn't wait to drag Xie Jingyan to the streets to admire the lanterns.

The streets were crowded, people were packed together.

The variety of lanterns is dazzling and overwhelming.

Xie Jingyan protected Shen Wan as they ate their way from one end of the street to the other. Except for Shen Wan, who was still hungry, the maids and guards were all stuffed.

Shen Wan wanted to eat so many things, but if she had to buy something, she would buy a portion. She would just try something new, and most of the food ended up in the stomachs of her maids and bodyguards.

Shen Wan wanted to buy some sweet cakes, but Yin Shuang, burping, said, "Your Highness, we really can't buy any more. We're all full."

Shen Wan, "..."

But Chen Wan still wanted to eat it, so she bought it anyway.

A little girl was standing in front of the sugar cake stall, looking very eager to eat some. Shen Wan bought a portion, took a small piece, and gave the rest to the little girl.

We walked and strolled, eating and having a great time.

I also ran into quite a few acquaintances.

First it was Prince Yanping and Cheng Yao, then Lu Cheng and Yun Rui, then Yun Qi and Princess Qinghe, Yun Lang and Miss Tao, then Tang Ze and Miss Xu, Xu Ji and Miss Tang...

They are all in pairs.

Everyone tacitly agreed not to go to the lantern festival together. With such a wonderful atmosphere, of course we should spend time with our wives and the girls we like.

If we bump into each other, we'll say hello and then go our separate ways.

Shen Wan was a little tired after walking around two streets. Xie Jingyan asked, "Are you tired?"

Shen Wan said, "A little."

"I'll take you somewhere."

Shen Wan asked curiously, "Where are you taking me?"

Xie Jingyan didn't say anything, but just took Shen Wan's hand and led her forward.

He led Shen Wan to the edge of a bridge, put his arm around her waist, and with a light step, he leaped off the bridge with her, flying towards an exquisite painted boat, where they landed steadily.

Xie Jingyan knew that Shen Wan would get tired after a short while of browsing the lanterns, but the lantern festival in Kyoto was only held a few times a year, and if she missed it, she would have to wait a long time. So Xie Jingyan asked Chen Feng to charter this painted boat so that she could enjoy the lanterns by boat without getting too tired.

Shen Wan had seen lantern festivals many times since she was a child, but this was her first time taking a boat to visit a lantern festival. Standing at the bow of the boat, she looked at the crowds of people on both sides of the river and the dazzling lanterns, which was a unique sight.

It's just a pity that today isn't the fifteenth of the lunar month, so the moon isn't as round; otherwise, it would have been even more perfect.

Besides Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan, Yin Shuang and Haitang were also on the painted boat, brought aboard by Chen Feng and Chen Yu.

Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan stood at the bridgehead, the bright moon overhead, and the lanterns reflected in the river behind them, creating a beautiful scene.

But this beautiful scene didn't last long. A sharp arrow pierced the sky, shooting towards them with a ferocious sound.

Shen Wan was admiring the moon when suddenly Xie Jingyan grabbed her waist. Before she could react, she was spun around in his arms. She felt a cold breath brush against her ear, and a short arrow stuck straight into the painted boat.

Shen Wan realized what was happening too late and turned pale with fright.

Silver Frost and Begonia, who were standing at the stern of the boat, were even more startled.

Shen Wan considered herself to have a good temper, but she really couldn't help but curse. They just wanted to enjoy the lanterns in peace and quiet. What did they do to deserve this? They had tried to kill them time and time again.

Since it was an assassination attempt, it was impossible to only fire one arrow. Sure enough, just as we dodged one arrow, more came flying in one after another.

Xie Jingyan shielded Shen Wan behind him, drew the soft sword from his waist, and knocked away the short arrows that were shot at him.

Chen Feng and Chen Yu came over to help, while Yin Shuang and Hai Tang hid under the table on the painted boat. They were just maids, and the assassins wouldn't specifically target them. But if they just stood there without dodging, they would inevitably be injured by hidden weapons. If they took care of themselves and didn't have to worry about Chen Feng and Chen Yu protecting them, that would be considered a merit.

The two maids huddled on the floor by the table, trembling with fear. The arrow that pierced the window and hit the edge of the table nearly scared them to death.

Everyone else had a happy time at the lantern festival, but the princess was on tenterhooks. The princess was pregnant, and what if the fright caused her to have a miscarriage?

The two maids were barely able to take care of themselves, and they were also worried that Shen Wan might have a miscarriage.

Xie Jingyan and Chen Feng knocked the hidden weapons away, without harming Shen Wan in the slightest.

Xie Jingyan looked at Shen Wan and asked, "Are you alright?"

Shen Wan shook her head, "It's nothing..."

However, she had only uttered two words when suddenly several assassins in black leaped out of the water on both sides of the painted boat. The swords in their hands gleamed coldly in the moonlight, exuding a murderous aura.

Assassins are lying in ambush on the shore, and more are hiding in the water; they are meant to kill them.

Fortunately, Xie Jingyan brought Shen Wan along, and in addition to Chen Feng and Chen Yu, there were four hidden guards following them. However, the guards did not arrive, and there were sounds of fighting on the shore, indicating that they were being held back.

Having been assassinated twice while visiting the lantern festival, Shen Wan developed a psychological aversion to visiting it.

If we don't get rid of those who harbor evil intentions, they'll be sitting ducks the moment they step outside.

Especially since the Minister of Justice yesterday asked the Emperor to appoint Xie Jingyan as the Crown Prince, it seems that not only Xie Jingyin wants their lives, but the First Prince also wants to get rid of them.

Shen Wan retreated step by step into the painted boat, where she hid and watched from the side. No one noticed the assassin jumping in through the window.

The assassin's sword thrust towards Shen Wan, and Yin Shuang and Hai Tang cried out in fright, "Your Highness!"

Shen Wan turned around and saw the assassin's sword slashing towards her. Just when Shen Wan thought she was going to die, a hidden arrow pierced through the window and stabbed the assassin in the neck. The assassin fell to the ground on the spot.

This happened so fast that Shen Wanren was stunned. Then she saw a masked man jump in through the window.

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