Xuanyuan Ye knew very well that asking her was useless.
She would agree to whatever he did.
"Today is your birthday. Is there anywhere you'd like to go? I want to hear the truth. If you try to fool me with some random little fox again, don't blame me for being impolite."
Xuanyuan Ye's gaze locked onto her.
Jiang Tian looked at him and suddenly smiled: "What I really want to ask for, the Emperor will not grant."
Looking into her eyes, Xuan Yuan Ye almost forgot that he had always known what she wanted most.
It's simply the freedom to leave the palace and live a peaceful life.
But he couldn't let her go.
“You can say something else.” Xuan Yuan Ye avoided her gaze.
Jiang Tian smiled and said, "Then Your Majesty, please take me for a stroll by the river. I've heard there are fireflies here, but I've never seen them before."
Xuanyuan Ye nodded: "Okay."
Sure enough, there were fireflies by the river.
Seeing that Jiang Tian's features had softened considerably, Xuan Yuan Ye thought to himself that his trip had not been in vain.
But, in an instant, an accident happened!
To avoid revealing Jiang Tian's identity to too many people, and because this area was within the Imperial Guard's garrison area, Xuan Yuan Ye did not bring too many people with him.
Assassins emerged under these circumstances.
All the guards immediately appeared to protect Xuan Yuan Ye's safety.
He is the ruler of a country; if he makes any mistake, the world will be in chaos.
Xuanyuan Ye was surrounded like an iron barrel, and Jiang Tian was firmly held in his arms the moment the assassin appeared.
However, these assassins were extremely skilled and numerous.
It's unclear which loophole in their defenses they breached, allowing them to carry out the assassination under such circumstances.
Some guards went back to report the news, and the rest of the people had to hold on and wait for reinforcements to arrive.
While protecting Jiang Tian, Xuan Yuan Ye was unable to unleash his full power, which allowed a short and agile assassin to exploit his weakness.
The short sword, gleaming with a cold light, pierced through the layers of protection of the guards and thrust straight at Xuan Yuan Ye!
But the bodyguards are no pushovers. Years of training have given them physical abilities and skills a hundred times better than ordinary people. Their bodies are taut to the extreme, ready to pounce!
Xuanyuan Ye released Jiang Tian to prevent her from being implicated by him.
But, no sooner said than done—
Just as the assassin was about to reach Xuan Yuan Ye, the short knife suddenly changed direction. With a swift movement, the knife shot towards Jiang Tian's heart like an arrow!
In the blink of an eye, Xuanyuan Ye immediately understood.
This group's target wasn't him, it was Jiang Tian!
He was well protected, but because of this momentary lapse, Jiang Tian had no one by her side to protect her.
At this moment, Xuan Yuan Ye's brain couldn't keep up with the speed of his body. He was the closest person to Jiang Tian, and if he didn't shield her, then no one else could.
"Bang!"
The next instant, Xuanyuan Ye pulled Jiang Tian close, shielding her with his back. The short knife pierced his shoulder, only stopping when it was stopped by a tree. The blood-stained blade was still trembling.
Xuanyuan Ye vomited a mouthful of blood.
He saw that Jiang Tian was safe and sound, but it was too late to say anything to her.
The approaching sound of horses' hooves reminded him that reinforcements were arriving.
"...An Yi, take her away...make sure she doesn't fall into the eyes of others..."
Despite the excruciating pain, Xuanyuan Ye gave the order.
He absolutely could not let those ministers know that he was willing to risk his life for a princess from the Southern Kingdom.
In that case, Jiang Tian would inevitably be regarded as a wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country.
He is seriously ill and bedridden; he may not be able to save her.
Therefore, the safest way is for her to leave first.
As Jiang Tian met his gaze, she understood the meaning of his decree.
At this moment, Jiang Tian's eyes lost their usual fawning and feigned coquettishness, leaving only confusion and doubt.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion, and said calmly, "Why..."
Xuanyuan Ye knew that what she wanted to ask was why he had saved her.
The two people were of such different statuses that even if a princess from the southern kingdom died, she might not even be given a proper burial.
He was the emperor, more precious than anyone else, yet in that critical moment, he risked his life to protect her.
Xuanyuan Ye wanted to laugh, but he couldn't; the blood on his chest had soaked his clothes.
He didn't even know if the knife was poisoned.
"...An Yi, take her away quickly...Today I suddenly felt like it...and came to stroll by the river...no one else followed me...Do you understand?"
Although Xuanyuan Yehua spoke intermittently, his meaning was quite clear.
The guards understood immediately, and they all knelt down, saying, "Yes."
Xuanyuan Ye raised his hand, signaling An Yi to take Jiang Tian away, and then he lost consciousness.
Jiang Tian was led away by An Yi and quickly disappeared into the night.
Xuanyuan Ye's injury was too severe. He developed a high fever that night. The imperial physicians stayed up all night, and basin after basin of bloody fluid was drawn out. Finally, at the crack of dawn, they managed to save Xuanyuan Ye's life.
The imperial palace was heavily guarded, with imperial guards everywhere. The emperor was even assassinated and almost didn't survive. Everyone in the court was terrified.
However, the specifics will have to be decided after Xuanyuan Ye wakes up.
Xuanyuan Ye was unconscious for three days and three nights. When the short knife pierced his shoulder, he felt a serious injury to some organ, but he did not want to die.
His grand ambitions have not yet been realized, the Southern Kingdom has not been conquered, and Jiang Tian's heart has not been won.
If he were to die like that, his life would be far too dull and tasteless.
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