They departed from Lianyin Temple at the same time of Mao (5-7 AM), and all the nuns in the temple came out to see them off.
Just like when she arrived, Ye Jiu was dressed as a maid and mingled in the group.
Before leaving, Ji Huali went to see Ji Xiaozhu.
Just as Ji Xiaozhu was about to get into the carriage, Ji Huali stopped her, "Royal sister, wait a moment, I have a few words to say to you."
Ji Xiaozhu paused, looking at her with a forced smile, "What advice does Your Majesty have for me?"
"Actually, it's nothing. I just heard that there was some trouble in the direction of my sister's room last night, so I came to check on her. I'm relieved to see that you're safe and sound."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I was lucky. Although yesterday was not peaceful, it did not affect you." Ji Xiaozhu said meaningfully, "It's just that the commotion last night was a bit loud and disturbed Mother's rest. Mother was very angry last night."
Ji Huali feigned surprise, "Your Majesty knows?! Then this assassin certainly deserves to be executed. If he is caught, I will show him no mercy!"
Ji Xiaozhu didn't reply. "Royal sister, please get in the carriage. It's time to leave."
Having achieved her goal of showing off her power, Ji Huali naturally didn't want to linger any longer. "Sister, I won't keep you any longer."
Ji Huali turned and left.
Ji Xiaozhu stared meaningfully at Ji Huali's back as she approached the carriage, and finally lowered the curtain.
Ji Huali didn't see this scene, but Ye Jiu, who was at the very back, did.
This... it seems they took action last night. Ji Xiaozhu has a faint smell of blood on her. I just don't know if it was just Liuli last night, or if there were a bunch of people involved, or who was more seriously injured.
Moreover, Ji Xiaozhu's gaze made her uneasy. Was she planning to retaliate? On the way back?
Filled with doubts, Ye Jiu didn't get into the carriage with Liu Li, but instead stayed outside to drive with the coachwoman.
She was somewhat afraid that Ji Huali would see through her thoughts. Ji Huali knew of Yun Jia's existence, so she had to be careful not to show any unusual expression.
——
Ye Jiu's unease was confirmed when several arrows emerged from the dense forest.
The whooshing sound of arrows piercing the air assaulted the ears of the people, indiscriminately attacking the entire ceremonial procession.
The guards naturally gathered around the Queen.
The horses were startled and ran wildly, and the entire procession was scattered by the arrows. Many servants were pierced through by the arrows, and there were corpses everywhere.
Moreover, this was a forest, and many ministers had already been carried away by horses, their screams echoing everywhere. Looking at the entire procession, only the Queen's carriage remained intact.
The guards surrounded the Queen's carriage and escorted it forward.
Familiar men in black emerged from the forest, some wielding swords and others knives, and charged toward the Queen's carriage, instantly escalating the chaos!
Ye Jiu tightened the reins the moment Ji Huali's horse was startled, but the frightened horse paid no heed and continued to prance despite its painful howls.
Ye Jiu felt something was strange when she saw those men in black rushing towards the Empress. Who were they? The Empress was on her deathbed, why would they need to assassinate her? To put it bluntly, if left unattended, she would be dead in a couple of months. Why would they need to make such a big fuss?
Sure enough, after Ji Huali's carriage veered off the main road, another group of masked men in black rushed out. This group was obviously more efficient than the assassins who had tried to kill the empress, and they were clearly not on the same level!
The group of men killed the horse first, and then shot arrows into the carriage, piercing through the carriage wall. The woman was so frightened that she wet herself, and in the midst of the flashing swords, she was decapitated without her even realizing it.
Ji Huali and Liuli had no choice but to abandon their vehicle. Her bodyguards were not enough, and it was very difficult for them to fight these people. Ye Jiu, who was paid to do the work, stepped in to help block some of them.
However, these people seemed to know her methods very well, so she had to take them seriously. The people who came a few days ago were indeed testing her...
With Liuli injured and unable to move easily, and Ji Huali not knowing martial arts, the two were chased all the way westward.
Ye Jiu vaguely remembered that area was...
A cliff?!
Ye Jiu's expression changed slightly. She quickly dealt with the men in black who were bothering her and chased after them to the west.
Ji Huali hasn't paid the final payment yet, so it's best if she doesn't die. If she really dies, she'll die too. When someone falls from grace, everyone pushes them down, and she'll definitely become the cannon fodder!
Liuli led Ji Huali forward, panting heavily. Ji Huali, who had always been pampered, hadn't been this disheveled in a very long time.
Ji Huali's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Ji Xiaozhu, I want her dead!"
She thought that since it was the last day, Ji Xiaozhu would definitely not dare to make a move, but she didn't expect that Ji Xiaozhu had prepared something big for her.
Moreover, she even dared to scheme against the Empress Dowager, using the pretext of assassinating her to attract most of the guards. She deserves to die.
If she manages to return alive today, she will definitely not let Ji Xiaozhu off the hook!
Liuli's wound reopened, and the scarlet blood stimulated the senses of both of them.
The long run left the two exhausted, while the men in black continued their relentless pursuit.
As they drew ever closer to the cliff, Liuli gritted her teeth and shielded Ji Huali behind her, determined to fight them to the death.
"Ah!" Liuli shouted and charged back at the men in black, but unfortunately she was unarmed and no match for these armed opponents.
Fortunately, Ye Jiu caught up and joined the battle in time, which relieved Ji Huali's anxiety a little.
There were about thirty men in black present. Even if Ye Jiu was strong, he couldn't possibly fight and win against so many people, especially since they were elite troops.
Forced to retreat step by step, they were only ten feet away from the edge of the cliff!
Ye Jiu could see the bottomless cliff with just a slight upward tilt of her head.
Good news: No injury. Bad news: Exhausted.
The sword in her hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she found it increasingly difficult to wield.
It's been almost half an hour. Those guards! And the Empress should have realized what's happening by now! Or is this person really planning to kill the Empress too...?
The group of men in black probably realized they had wasted too much time, so they became even more aggressive. Ye Jiu didn't have time to react before a sword struck his shoulder.
The sword was inserted and then pulled out, blood gushing out, and Ye Jiu's entire right hand was completely powerless.
Ye Jiu turned to look at Liu Li, but to her surprise, Liu Li was already lying on the ground, with a large pool of blood beneath her, indicating that she was dead...
Only she and... Ji Huali remained.
Ye Jiu clutched her right shoulder and backed away. Was this where she was going to die today...?
The sound of well-trained footsteps reached Ye Jiu's ears, and her eyes lit up. Reinforcements had arrived! They might be the royal guards!
Ji Huali's eyes widened. Now, she just needed to hold on a little longer...
The man in black naturally heard the sound as well, and his movements became increasingly hurried, forcing Ye Jiu to barely dodge.
Ji Huali was no match for her; she had already been stabbed several times.
The increasingly strong smell of blood stimulated her adrenaline. No, she absolutely could not die here!
Just as the man's sword was about to pierce her heart, Ye Jiu happened to be right next to her.
I don't know where she got the strength, but she grabbed Ye Jiu and stood in front of her.
"Swoosh—" The sword pierced Ye Jiu's chest, and Ye Jiu's legs went weak and she fell to the ground.
Just then, reinforcements arrived.
After Ji Huali finished using it, she casually pushed Ye Jiu, and Ye Jiu rolled down the mountainside.
Yun Jia, who was following behind the guards, narrowed her eyes and only saw Ye Jiu's figure falling off the cliff...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
