Chapter 105 Chu Huaiyu's Assassination Attack (A Critical Blow to the Scumbag Emperor)
The copper bells on the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze, breaking the silence of the entire hall.
Lu Zhaoxue had just removed her hairpins and was lying on the bed covered with a brocade quilt, her eyes still closed.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall, and Eunuch Wei's voice was filled with barely concealed anxiety:
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! His Majesty has been assassinated!"
The candlelight flickered, reflecting on Lu Zhaoxue's calm and expressionless profile.
Upon hearing this, she merely raised her eyes slightly, showing no sign of alarm or worry.
She simply replied with a faint, "I understand."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty's injuries are quite serious. Please move to Ganqing Palace to take care of His Majesty."
After a long pause, Lu Zhaoxue slowly spoke:
"I am not a royal physician, so my going would be of no use. You may leave."
Eunuch Wei was so anxious outside the palace that he kept stamping his feet.
But not daring to rashly confront them, they could only earnestly advise:
"Your Majesty, His Majesty's injuries are critical. He is currently unconscious and keeps calling your name! Please go and see him, even if it's just for a short while."
Lu Zhaoxue closed her eyes, shutting out the faint candlelight.
Chu Huaiyu's name, once the most cherished mark on her heart, is now only a cold, indifferent memory.
She turned over, her back to the palace gate.
Her voice was as soft as a wisp of smoke: "I am truly exhausted and need to rest. Eunuch Wei, you may leave now; there is no need to persuade me further."
The footsteps outside the palace gradually faded away, carrying with them Wei Gonggong's deep disappointment and helplessness.
Lu Zhaoxue also slept soundly without any dreams until the morning light shone through the window onto the bedside, at which point she slowly got up.
——
The air inside the Ganqing Palace was filled with the smell of medicine.
Chu Huaiyu suddenly opened his eyes, the wound in his chest aching terribly.
But he couldn't catch his breath; his gaze swept eagerly across the hall, but he didn't see the figure he longed for.
His heart sank.
Chu Huaiyu, forcing himself to stay awake, called out in a hoarse voice, "Eunuch Wei, quickly go and invite the Empress over!"
Eunuch Wei dared not delay and hurriedly went to Chengqian Palace.
This time, Lu Zhaoxue did not refuse. She changed into a plain white palace dress and followed Eunuch Wei to Ganqing Palace at a leisurely pace.
When Chu Huaiyu saw Lu Zhaoxue enter, his eyes lit up instantly, but were quickly replaced by deep resentment.
He struggled to sit up, but the pain from his wound made him gasp and his face turn deathly pale.
"Zhaoxue, you've finally arrived." His voice was weak, carrying a deliberately exaggerated vulnerability.
As he spoke, he lifted the brocade quilt covering him, revealing the thick gauze wrapped around his chest.
Dark red bloodstains still seeped into the gauze, a shocking sight.
"Look, this wound is so deep. Last night when I was unconscious, all I could think about was you. I was afraid I would never see you again."
He looked at Lu Zhaoxue with a wronged expression, hoping to see a trace of heartache and reluctance in her eyes.
Lu Zhaoxue simply stood there, her gaze calmly sweeping over his wound.
She neither stepped forward nor offered any comfort, but simply said:
"Your Majesty, please rest and recover."
That flat, indifferent tone was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all of Chu Huaiyu's expectations.
The color drained from his face, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't find the words.
He could only slump back onto the bed, feeling utterly helpless.
After lying back on the bed, Chu Huaiyu suddenly remembered...
(The following passage describes the male protagonist's memories from many years ago! I saw in a book review that someone actually took it out of context and said it represents the female protagonist's current attitude towards the male protagonist. How could anyone be so malicious! I'm speechless. Can people who are both stupid and malicious please stop reading my novels!)
In the past, when his relationship with Lu Zhaoxue was blossoming, a sudden illness struck him down in the Prince's mansion.
The high fever made him delirious, and every bone in his body ached.
He vaguely heard the door hinges click softly, and with difficulty opened his eyes, he saw Lu Zhaoxue's worried expression.
She was wearing a peach-pink dress with rain stains on the hem and her hair was slightly damp, clearly indicating that she had come in the rain.
Seeing him lying on the bed with a flushed face, Lu Zhaoxue's steps faltered, and her voice trembled as she hurried to the bedside.
"Huaiyu, how are you feeling?"
She reached out her hand, and her fingertips just touched his burning forehead before she abruptly pulled away.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, glistening droplets swirling between her eyelashes.
Looking at her anxious and tearful appearance, Chu Huaiyu felt a surge of indescribable warmth in his heart.
He grew up in the deep palace and was used to hypocritical scheming. Even his mother only used him as a tool to compete for his father's favor.
No one had ever worried about him or felt anxious for him as much as she did.
The vulnerability caused by the high fever was magnified infinitely, and Chu Huaiyu's usual deliberate coldness and arrogance collapsed at this moment.
He looked like a wronged child, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice thick with a nasal tone.
She said to Lu Zhaoxue in a coquettish tone, "Zhaoxue, I feel unwell."
Lu Zhaoxue was taken aback.
In the past, Chu Huaiyu always had a cold and aloof demeanor, and he was always polite and respectful in his dealings with people, but never overstepped the bounds of propriety.
When have I ever looked so wronged and vulnerable?
The man before me had an unnatural flush on his cheeks, his eyelashes were wet and drooping, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of grievance and expectation.
It looked just like a helpless little dog that had been injured and was curled up, gazing longingly at its owner, yearning for a bit of pity and comfort.
After a moment of stunned silence, Lu Zhaoxue's tenderness was amplified infinitely.
She softened her voice and said gently, "Don't worry, I'm here with you."
She carefully helped Chu Huaiyu sit up and placed a soft pillow behind his back.
She then took the medicine prepared by the steward, scooped a spoonful with a silver spoon, gently blew on it to cool it before offering it to his lips.
"Here, drink the medicine and you'll feel better."
Chu Huaiyu obediently opened her mouth, and the bitter medicine slid down her throat, but she did not frown and resist as usual.
After finishing the bowl of medicine, Chu Huaiyu still clung to her, tilting his head slightly and leaning against Lu Zhaoxue's shoulder.
His breath, warm and carrying a faint medicinal scent, brushed against her neck.
Lu Zhaoxue's cheeks flushed crimson, and her ears burned with heat.
She remained stiff and motionless, but quietly raised her hand and gently patted Chu Huaiyu's back.
The sound of rain pattering outside the window mingled with the fragrance of herbs and the delicate scent of orchids in Lu Zhaoxue's hair.
It became an unforgettable warmth in Chu Huaiyu's memory.
After his thoughts returned to normal, Chu Huaiyu was still unwilling to give up!
He spoke in a low voice: "Zhaoxue, are you upset that I didn't go to your place yesterday?"
I didn't mean to. Those ministers always love to gossip about you. I went to other women just to shut them up and stop criticizing you.
I didn't touch her; I just sat on the soft couch outside her bedchamber for a while, and then the assassins appeared.
Chu Huaiyu spoke earnestly, his gaze fixed on Lu Zhaoxue's face, afraid of missing any change in her expression.
Lu Zhaoxue's fingers, hanging at her sides, twitched almost imperceptibly, but her expression remained unchanged.
What's the point of him saying all this now?
The various hurts of the past have already left a deep mark on her heart.
How could he possibly smooth things over with a mere, flimsy explanation?
She had long since lost all feelings for him.
Lu Zhaoxue lowered her eyes to avoid Chu Huaiyu's burning gaze, and instead asked, "Has the assassin been captured?"
Chu Huaiyu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
He nodded quickly, his voice tinged with excitement:
"The assassin was captured by the guards immediately after he attempted to assassinate me. He is now being held in Dali Temple and is being interrogated by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice."
After hearing this, Lu Zhaoxue nodded slightly and then said nothing more.
Silence fell again in the hall.
Looking at Lu Zhaoxue's indifferent appearance, Chu Huaiyu felt another pang of pain in his heart.
He knew that he had hurt her too deeply, and that making amends would not be easy.
Sigh... Chu Huaiyu sighed softly.
At this moment, Eunuch Wei stepped forward carrying the medicine.
Chu Huaiyu's thin lips curved slightly, and he deliberately softened his voice: "Zhaoxue, could you please feed me?"
Lu Zhaoxue's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously wanted to refuse.
However, considering that her younger sister Zhaoxing's matter still required Chu Huaiyu's approval, she ultimately suppressed her unease.
She stepped forward and took the medicine from Eunuch Wei.
The bitter smell of the medicine hit her face. Lu Zhaoxue steadied herself, scooped up a spoonful, and slowly brought it to Chu Huaiyu's lips.
Chu Huaiyu opened his mouth and drank it down, his eyes fixed on Lu Zhaoxue. She was still the same person, but her state of mind was no longer the same.
After drinking the medicine, Lu Zhaoxue stood by the bedside, about to say goodbye, when Chu Huaiyu suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist tightly.
His palms were icy cold, yet his strength was astonishing.
It was as if Lu Zhaoxue would disappear the moment he let go.
"Zhaoxue, don't go, stay with me for a while, okay?" Chu Huaiyu's voice was pleading, but her eyes were full of stubbornness.
Lu Zhaoxue tried to pull her hand away, but Chu Huaiyu held on too tightly.
With a little effort, she saw Chu Huaiyu's brows furrow, his face turning even more pale from the pain.
Lu Zhaoxue paused for a moment, but ultimately let him pull her along.
Seeing that she had stopped struggling, Chu Huaiyu felt a little relieved, but the strength in his grip on her wrist did not lessen at all.
Perhaps due to the severity of her injuries, or perhaps due to exhaustion, Chu Huaiyu's eyelids grew heavier and heavier before long.
He eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a coma again.
Even while unconscious, his hand remained tightly gripping Lu Zhaoxue, refusing to let go even for a moment.
Lu Zhaoxue looked at his pale sleeping face, then at the wrist he was tightly gripping, and sighed softly.
She ultimately couldn't leave, so she lay down on her side beside him.
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