The soldier only answered the questions he knew: "I only heard that the Emperor was seriously injured, and I don't know anything else."

His reply only made Jian Yang's heart clench.

Seeing that she was holding a bowl of rice but not touching her chopsticks, Jian Hong tentatively asked, "Ayang, do you want to go back to the capital?"

Jian Yang replied almost without hesitation, "Yes."

She then said somewhat embarrassedly, "No, I just..."

Jian Hong put a chicken leg into her bowl and said with a smile, "No need to explain. Although I am not married, I understand the principle that even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Go in peace."

And so, Jian Yang finally returned to the capital ten days later.

She kept asking about the emperor's whereabouts along the way, but the palace had probably blocked the news, so the common people knew nothing about it either.

There were also some rumors, from who-knows-where, that the emperor was dead, but the royal family was keeping his death a secret.

This made Jian Yang even more anxious.

Upon entering the capital, she disguised herself and headed straight for the Prime Minister's residence, intending to inquire about the Emperor from her father.

Prime Minister Jian was overjoyed and immediately ordered the cooks in his residence to prepare a banquet.

"Ayang, what brings you back to the capital?"

Jian Yang said somewhat guiltily, "I haven't seen Father for a long time. With the end of the year approaching, I came back to visit Father."

The cunning Prime Minister Jian chuckled and said, "You're worried because you heard about the assassination attempt on the Emperor, aren't you?"

Jian Yang quickly denied it three times: No, no, don't talk nonsense.

Prime Minister Jian smiled and said, "When I saw how resolutely you left, I thought you had no feelings for the Emperor. It seems I was wrong."

Jian Yang said vaguely, "That's different. This is because I came back to see him one last time since he was dying."

Prime Minister Jian put on a stern face: "Don't talk nonsense. His Majesty is in good health. How could he die so easily?"

Jian Yang asked in surprise, "From what Father said, the Emperor is alright?"

To everyone's surprise, Prime Minister Jian shook his head and said, "To be honest, I don't know either. Since the Emperor was assassinated, he has never attended court again. I have been handling all the affairs of state."

Jian Yang was speechless.

Even her father, who was the prime minister, didn't know the emperor's current situation, so who else could she ask?

Just after she finished eating, the bodyguard that Jian Hong had left for her suddenly came to report.

"Miss, someone is watching us outside. Should we deal with it?"

Jian Yang shook her head, "We don't know where they came from or how many people they have. Taking action rashly could very well backfire."

After giving instructions to the guards, Jian Yang turned to say goodbye to her father.

She could not stay at the Prime Minister's residence for too long.

Within this imperial city, there are still many of her father's political enemies who are eager to find something to use against Prime Minister Jian.

If those people find out she's still alive, they might impeach her father, and that would be a huge loss.

As soon as she stepped out of the mansion, even Jian Yang, who had never practiced martial arts, could feel several gazes focused on her, so she immediately ordered that they leave the city first.

Before she even reached the city gate, a carriage blocked her way.

"Miss, should we deal with it?" the guard asked in a low voice.

Jian Yang waved her hand: "No need, it's the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the guards immediately retreated.

The driver was Eunuch Zhang, and it goes without saying who was sitting in the car.

"Please, Your Majesty, get into the carriage," said Eunuch Zhang respectfully.

Jian Yang had no choice but to dismount and climb into the unremarkable-looking carriage.

Sure enough, the emperor was sitting in the carriage.

The luminous pearl illuminated a small space inside the carriage. Jian Yang glanced at the emperor's complexion; well, it was healthy, rosy, and radiant.

It seems this guy is perfectly fine.

Maybe the assassination attempt was a hoax.

Jian Yang was immediately furious.

That scoundrel made her worry for nothing.

"Now that the Empress has returned, why is she in such a hurry to leave?" the Emperor asked gently.

Jian Yang said irritably, "I also want to ask Your Majesty, why did you pretend to be seriously injured in an assassination attempt?"

The Emperor smiled and said, "So the Empress was worried about my safety and specially rushed back from the northern border. I am very happy."

Jian Yang asked in confusion, "How did Your Majesty know I was in the Northern Border?"

The emperor looked at her as if she were a fool.

Jian Yang thought for a moment and then suddenly realized.

Her "scandal" with Jian Hong could not be kept from the emperor. If the emperor were interested, he could easily find out the whole truth by sending someone to the northern border to investigate.

Even when she returned, the emperor probably found out immediately, so he specially went out of the palace to wait for her.

Okay.

"The Emperor has not yet answered me: why did he pretend to be seriously injured in an assassination attempt and even neglect state affairs?"

The emperor's previously smiling expression suddenly turned serious: "The situation in the court is currently turbulent, and I need to find those traitors hiding in the shadows."

I see.

Having learned that the emperor was safe and sound, Jian Yang immediately requested to leave.

"It's rare for you to come back, would you like to stay a few more days?" The emperor knew he couldn't keep her for the time being, so he settled for second best and only hoped that she could stay with him for a few more days.

Jian Yang refused without even thinking.

Before she could even speak, an arrow, seemingly out of nowhere, pierced the carriage wall, nearly grazing her temple.

Jian Yang: "!!!"

Holy crap, what's going on?

"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Zhang cried out hoarsely, "There's an assassin!"

The emperor instinctively pulled Jian Yang into his arms and calmly asked, "How many people are on the other side?"

Eunuch Zhang said, "There are at least twenty people."

Soon, the sounds of fighting could be heard outside.

The secret guards brought by Jian Yang and the emperor's secret guards joined the battle together.

Seeing that the assassins were being held back, Eunuch Zhang immediately shouted, "You two, hold on tight!"

"drive!"

The carriage sped through the city, fleeing towards the palace.

Even though the roads in the imperial city were flat, Jian Yang still felt like she was about to throw up from the jolting.

Finally, just as she felt like she was about to be shaken to pieces, the carriage came to a stop.

Jian Yang lifted the car curtain, and familiar buildings came into view.

They returned to the palace.

"Get out of the carriage," the emperor said.

Jian Yang remained unmoved.

The emperor noticed her resistance and said gently, "It was my fault for putting you in danger again today, Empress. I promise you that such a situation will never happen again."

Jian Yang gave him a cool look and asked, "Were you really assassinated last time?"

The emperor nodded.

"Is the injury serious?"

The emperor smiled and said, "It's alright."

"Where do I live?" Jian Yang asked again.

The emperor was taken aback, then said gently, "Naturally, it is Weiyang Palace. I have never allowed anyone to touch anything in your palace."

Jian Yang shook her head and said, "No, if the people in the palace find out that the already dead empress has suddenly reappeared, they will be scared half to death, or it will cause a huge sensation."

"Where would you like to stay?" the emperor asked patiently. "I will send someone to arrange it."

Jian Yang asked, "Can I live with you?"