The assassins were overjoyed that their target had failed to escape and was even injured, as they secretly rejoiced, feeling that their mission was about to be completed.

Taking advantage of your weakness to kill you, without hesitation, the assassins picked up their swords, swung forward, and began to fight the guards.

With too few guards remaining around Yinreng, his forces soon began to falter.

Seeing a black-clad assassin swing his sword at him, Yinreng endured the pain and raised his own sword to defend himself.

call out!

The imagined clash of swords did not occur. Before the sword could even pierce him, the assassin wielding the sword was struck in the chest by an arrow, fell to the ground, and died.

Yinreng was overjoyed; there was hope!

Looking up, he saw his fourth brother, Yinzhen, in the distance. He hadn't put down his bow yet, and it was clear that he was the one who had shot that arrow.

"Second brother, are you alright?"

Yinzhen, who usually had a cold and expressionless face, showed a rare hint of concern at this moment. He asked loudly, wanting to know how the Crown Prince was doing.

As he spoke, he rode his horse toward the Crown Prince.

The sixth prince, being young and unfamiliar with such a scene, was momentarily startled and reacted slowly, but he showed just as much concern for his second brother, the crown prince.

He followed Yinzhen and learned to do what his fourth brother did.

When the group arrived at the Crown Prince's side, the assassins, seeing that they had reinforcements, knew they were no match for him and fled before the reinforcements even arrived.

Yinzhen naturally wouldn't let them go. He sent some guards to chase after them and see if they could catch them.

Having just fallen from his horse, the prince was in a sorry state, his clothes covered in filth, and blood gushing from the arrow wound on his leg, which looked quite serious.

Seeing this, fearing that there might still be someone lying in ambush, out of caution, Yinzhen led the remaining men to quickly escort his second brother back to the camp to find a royal physician to treat his injuries.

Everyone was on high alert, wary of any assassins lurking in the shadows. Fortunately, the assassins had probably already retreated, and the journey back was uneventful, without any ambushes or assassinations.

They returned safely to the camp, while the rest of the people were still in the enclosure.

Only Yunyi and a few others were waiting outside; the other concubines had not arrived.

She saw someone coming out from afar and wondered who it was. But when she got closer, she realized it was her son, Yinzhen.

Upon closer inspection, Yunyi noticed something was amiss. Yinzhen's face was gloomy, unlike the cheerful look one would expect after returning from a hunt. Moreover, the group of people had rushed back very quickly.

Logically speaking, it's normal to run fast when going out, but when they return from hunting with a full haul and no rush, they should be slower. Their current behavior is so abnormal that Yunyi's heart sank, and she realized that something might have happened.

"Imperial Physician, quickly summon the Imperial Physician."

Upon arriving at the destination, Yinzhen dismounted and ordered the palace servants to summon the imperial physician.

Without even speaking to his mother, he quickly carried the Crown Prince, who was already somewhat unconscious due to excessive blood loss, into the tent.

Yinzhen was unavailable, but Yinrang, receiving a signal from his brother, went to Yunyi and briefly explained what had happened.

Yunyi covered her mouth, deeply shocked. She never expected that someone would attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince in the hunting grounds.

She knew in her heart that this matter was by no means simple, and that the camp was about to experience a major upheaval.

Nodding in understanding what she should do, Yunyi told Yinrang to go about his business while she went to Empress Niohuru's tent to report what had just happened.

The Crown Prince was assassinated and seriously injured. This matter concerns both the imperial court and the harem. As the Crown Prince's nominal mother and the Empress Dowager, Niohuru should step forward to take charge of the situation before Emperor Kangxi returns.

Niohuru was also surprised by the major event that happened today. She suppressed her shock, patted Yunyi's hand, and said, "Alright, I understand. I will handle this matter."

Looking at Yunyi, Niohuru continued, "Some things may happen next. For your safety, sister, you should go back to your tent and stay there."

Yunyi nodded to indicate that she understood, bowed, and left the tent. She then hurried back to her own quarters.

After quickly tidying her clothes, Niohuru instructed the palace maid beside her, "Go and inform Lord Agu, explain the situation to him, and tell him to guard the camp and not let any suspicious people in."

He then instructed another eunuch, "Go to the hunting grounds and wait. Once the Emperor comes out, immediately go forward and report this matter to him."

After giving these instructions, Empress Niohuru got up and walked towards the Crown Prince with her maids. Emperor Kangxi had not yet returned, and as the Empress, she had to go and keep watch.

Upon arrival, the imperial physicians who had accompanied the prince were there and were treating him.

...

Having lost many men, Kangxi finally drove away the wolves and escaped from the hunting grounds, only to hear heartbreaking news.

"What?! The Crown Prince was assassinated in the hunting grounds and is seriously injured!" Kangxi exclaimed in disbelief, clutching his aching chest. With a glimmer of hope, he asked, "Is this true? You haven't been deceiving me?"

The eunuch sent by the Empress to deliver a message immediately knelt down and kowtowed upon hearing the Emperor's question.

"Your Majesty, it was the Empress who instructed me to wait here to report this matter to you. Every word I have spoken is true, and there is not a single lie."

These words struck Kangxi like a bolt from the blue. Without delay, he sent Hutu Ling'a back, gave a few instructions to Liang Jiugong beside him, and hurried to the Crown Prince's residence.

Throughout the journey, the monarch silently prayed that the crown prince would be safe and sound, otherwise...

Hutu Ling'a knew the situation was serious, so she didn't insist on going with them. She nodded and returned to her tent.

The others who returned with Kangxi realized that something was wrong, and under Liang Jiugong's arrangement, they all returned to their respective places and were not allowed to come out unless necessary.

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