Chapter 186 Assassination
However, a strange feeling welled up in Shen Yiqiu's heart.
It is true that Zhao Jieyu and Song Sangyu are related, but after what happened last time, it is really unreasonable for her to send such an eye-catching congratulatory gift.
She had a vague feeling of unease. She looked at the four eunuchs at the table. Their faces were expressionless, but the small scars on the backs of their hands caught her attention and made her even more wary.
The eunuch smiled respectfully and said to Song Sangyu:
“Miss Song, Her Highness Jieyu has instructed that this generous gift must be opened by you personally to show sincerity and bestow blessings.”
Song Sangye was overjoyed, feeling her face glow with pride.
Just as she was about to touch the red silk, Shen Yiqiu's right hand quietly rested on the soft sword wrapped around her waist, her body leaning slightly forward, ready to deal with any possible changes.
Xiao Yongjing also noticed Shen Yiqiu's movements, his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared intently at the wooden box.
The red silk was suddenly ripped open by Song Sangyu.
What comes into view is an open wooden box containing a vibrant red coral from the East China Sea.
Under the candlelight, the coral shimmered and shone, exuding extraordinary magnificence.
Wow! Such high-quality coral!
"Zhao Jieyu is truly generous!"
Song Sangyu looked smug and glanced back at Shen Yiqiu again, her face full of victor's pride.
Shen Yiqiu relaxed her nerves. Could it be that she was just overthinking things, and this was just a generous gift to support Song Sangyu?
Just as everyone's attention was focused on the coral, something unexpected happened.
Several dark figures suddenly sprang up from all around, their movements ruthless, clearly indicating that they had been preparing for a long time and had done ample rehearsal.
The cups and saucers at the table were knocked over by their swift movements, and the crashing sound drew screams from those around them.
Their sprint was aimed directly at the still-shaken Song Qingming and the bewildered Song Sangyu.
One assassin thrust his longsword straight at Song Qingming's face, while another swung his knife at Song Sangyu's abdomen.
Song Qingming was terrified and retreated desperately, screaming as he and his chair overturned to the ground.
"Help...help me! Don't kill me!!"
He scrambled backward, using both hands and feet, trying to hide under the table, looking utterly pathetic.
Song Sangyu instinctively protected her stomach and fled in all directions:
"Ah!!!! My child! Brother Langxing! Aunt! Save me!!"
She panicked and tried to back away, but her elaborate wedding dress tripped her up. As the blade drew near, she trembled with despair.
Shen Yiqiu was taken aback, and thought to herself:
"As expected! The person behind this wanted to silence them! They felt the father and daughter were no longer useful, or they were afraid they would reveal more!"
Instinctively, she wanted to retreat to the side and back to safety, to avoid this mess of internal strife, and to watch her enemy reap what he sowed—something she would gladly do.
Just then.
The assassins swayed strangely, their toes slamming into the ground to increase their speed and change direction, aiming straight for Xiao Yongjing, the head of the banquet.
It turns out that their target was never the Song family father and daughter, but the Crown Prince!
"Protect the Emperor!"
"Protect the Crown Prince! Protect the Marquis!"
The longsword pierced straight into Xiao Yongjing's heart with astonishing speed. When it was still three inches away from his heart, Shen Yiqiu subconsciously stepped to the side to block in front of the Crown Prince.
Her mind went blank, with only one thought remaining: He can't die!
Xiao Yongjing reacted even faster than her!
The moment she turned to the side, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, then turned his back, grabbed the wine jug from the table, and smashed it against the assassin's wrist.
The longsword veered off course, grazing Xiao Yongjing's arm, tearing his sleeve and exposing raw flesh.
At the same time, Mo Yu, Hong Lan, and the hidden guards among the guests appeared and subdued the assassins in just a few breaths.
Most of these assassins were death squad members; the moment they were captured, they bit into the poison sacs in their mouths and died instantly, without leaving a single word.
Guests scattered in panic, screaming all around.
Shen Yiqiu was held tightly in Xiao Yongjing's arms, and the warm liquid seeped through her clothes onto Shen Yiqiu's shoulder.
You're injured!
Xiao Yongjing looked down at her, seemingly unconcerned about her wound:
"It's nothing, just a superficial injury. Who gave you permission to block it? Are you out of your mind?"
Mo Yu quickly searched the assassin's body and reported back:
“Your Highness, you are clean and have nothing that can prove your identity.”
Shen Yiqiu pointed to the assassin's torn inner lining and said, "There."
Mo Yu immediately stepped forward and carefully tore open the opening. On the gray lining, three crossed halberds were embroidered with the same color silk thread.
Xiao Yongjing frowned: "Three halberds...?"
Shen Yiqiu made a quick decision, pointing to the others who were still fighting nearby:
"Your Highness, let one go, and send someone to secretly follow him."
Xiao Yongjing understood and gave Mo Yu a wink.
Mo Yu understood and deliberately created an opening in the chaos. An assassin who had been surrounded saw this and jumped out without hesitation, disappearing into the courtyard in a few leaps.
Honglan followed silently.
Throughout the entire process, the old woman remained remarkably calm.
The moment the assassin appeared, he grabbed the stunned Fu Langxing and hissed:
"Young Master, please come with me!"
Fu Langxing looked at Shen Yiqiu in the crowd, not wanting to leave at all: "Yiqiu..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was forcibly dragged away by the nanny, as if she had already anticipated this turn of events.
Meanwhile, Song Sangyu, who was frightened, was knocked to the ground by guests in the chaos. She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and a pool of bright red blood instantly spread beneath her.
"My child! My child—!"
She touched the bloodstains on the hem of her skirt with her hand, and cried out weakly, but no one paid attention in the chaos.
Amidst the chaos, Shen Yiqiu remained unusually calm.
She broke free from Xiao Yongjing's embrace and ripped off the lining of her clothes.
"Don't move."
She skillfully bandaged the wound on his arm.
After a careful inspection, confirming that there was no poisoning, I breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Xiao Yongjing let her do as she pleased, a smile playing on his lips as his gaze fell on her focused profile.
"Why did you block my way just now?"
Shen Yiqiu continued working, replying calmly:
"If Your Highness were to suffer any harm in front of me, I would be guilty even if I were to die a thousand deaths."
Xiao Yongjing looked at her, knowing that she was not telling the truth, but he did not press her further.
He gently squeezed her cold palm with his other hand.
"If anything happens to you, I will be... guilty beyond redemption."
Looking at his unreliable appearance, Shen Yiqiu thought that if she hadn't dodged in time, she would have almost lost her life.
He even had the mind to joke! A surge of anger welled up inside me, and I tightened my grip on the bandage.
"hiss!"
Caught off guard, Xiao Yongjing gasped in pain and looked at Shen Yiqiu in disbelief.
Shen Yiqiu quickly tied the knot, withdrew her hand expressionlessly, raised an eyebrow slightly at him, and said meaningfully:
"Your Highness should take good care of your health."
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