The female lead's character has fallen apart?!
"Ugh..." she groaned, instinctively grabbing the carved bedpost beside her to avoid falling. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, while her cheeks flushed an unnatural red.
Zongzheng Hengyu's gaze, which had been filled with amusement and coldness, suddenly hardened the moment she swayed and her expression became unusual.
He frowned slightly, his sharp gaze quickly sweeping over her flushed cheeks and slightly unfocused eyes.
"Jiang Wanzhi?" His voice was a few decibels lower, with a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.
Jiang Wanzhi felt dizzy and lightheaded, her whole body shivering. The dizziness grew stronger and stronger. She forced herself to stay conscious, trying to tell herself that she was fine, that she had just missed breakfast...
However, before she could speak, Zongzheng Hengyu said in a deep voice towards the door, "Yan Cheng!"
Yan Cheng pushed the door open and entered, and was taken aback when he saw Jiang Wanzhi swaying precariously as she leaned against the bedpost.
Yan Cheng casually took her pulse, then gently touched her forehead with the back of his hand, replying anxiously, "She has a fever."
Zongzheng Hengyu spoke a little faster, "Prepare a carriage immediately and send her back to the Prime Minister's residence. Have the imperial physician... no, have the best physician from the Prince's residence accompany her to take care of her."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Yan Cheng accepted the order and immediately stepped forward to support Jiang Wanzhi, who was almost unsteady on her feet. "Miss Jiang, please come with me."
Jiang Wanzhi was too weak to resist at this point, and could only let Yan Cheng and the maid who came in after her support as she walked unsteadily out. Before leaving the house, she subconsciously looked back.
Zongzheng Hengyu was still leaning against the headboard, his black hair disheveled and his face pale. The thick bandages on his shoulder blades and the hideous wounds on his arms looked particularly glaring in the dim light.
The carriage from Prince Heng's residence sped along the road to the Prime Minister's residence.
Jiang Wanzhi lay drowsily on her familiar bed, a cold handkerchief covering her forehead.
The skilled physician from the Prince Heng's residence has already examined the patient, prescribed medicine, and explained that the high fever was caused by excessive fright, wind-cold entering the body, and emotional turmoil, requiring several days of rest.
Upon receiving the news, Prime Minister Jiang practically rushed into his daughter's room. Seeing her flushed cheeks and unconscious state, the once composed and shrewd Prime Minister paled instantly, replaced by overwhelming fear and heartache.
"Zhi'er! Zhi'er!" He sat on the edge of the bed, calling out repeatedly, his voice trembling. "How could this happen?! What happened last night... what exactly happened last night?" He looked his daughter up and down anxiously, afraid that she might have some wounds that had been covered up.
Jiang Wanzhi was jolted awake by her father's anxious voice, and struggled to open her heavy eyelids. Seeing her father's worried face, her nose tingled, and tears almost fell.
"Father..." Her voice was hoarse and weak, "I'm alright... I'm not hurt..."
She took a breath, still shaken by the terrifying scene from the previous night. "On my way back to the manor last night... I encountered an assassin... It was His Highness... who saved me."
"His Highness Prince Heng saved you?" Prime Minister Jiang frowned and pressed, "What exactly happened? An assassin? How are His Highness Prince Heng's injuries?"
He was worried about his daughter's safety, and he also knew that the assassination of Prince Heng was no small matter, and the danger behind it was enough to shake the court.
Jiang Wanzhi recounted in broken sentences how she was attacked in the carriage last night, how Zongzheng Hengyu shielded her with his body, and how she was shot by a stray arrow.
She still shuddered and turned even paler when she spoke of the crossbow bolt that pierced his shoulder and the heavy smell of blood.
Prime Minister Jiang was shocked and his expression changed rapidly. Prince Heng was seriously injured while saving Wan Zhi?
Is this a blessing or a curse? Is Prince Heng's action a genuine act of protection, or does he have ulterior motives?
"Your Highness... is your injury serious?" Prime Minister Jiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked in a deep voice.
"The imperial physician said... the arrow wound was deep, but fortunately it didn't hit any vital organs... but I've lost a lot of blood," Jiang Wanzhi replied weakly, her mind seemingly replaying his pale, weak, yet determined face.
Prime Minister Jiang remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. Jiang Wanzhi was his only daughter. His wife had been frail since childhood and passed away when Jiang Wanzhi was of marriageable age. Over the years, Prime Minister Jiang had single-handedly cared for Jiang Wanzhi with unwavering devotion.
Looking at his daughter's haggard appearance, he tenderly tucked the blanket around her, saying, "Alright, don't think about it so much. You've been frightened and caught a cold. The most important thing right now is to rest and recover. Stay in your room for the next few days and don't go anywhere. We'll talk about the outside world later. I'll take care of everything."
"Hmm..." Jiang Wanzhi closed her eyes wearily. The dizziness from the high fever came again, and her consciousness quickly sank into a daze.
A few days later, at Plum Blossom Courtyard.
A gathering ostensibly for appreciating plum blossoms, but in reality a social event for noble ladies of the capital, was underway. Red plum blossoms were in full bloom in the garden, their subtle fragrance filling the air, amidst the elegant attire and lively conversation.
Jiang Wanzhi's high fever had subsided, but she was still somewhat weak, and her face was pale as if she had recovered from an illness.
Forced by her father to come out "to clear her head and soak up some human energy," she sat listlessly in the pavilion, wrapped in a thick fox fur cloak and holding a hand warmer, watching the crowds playing in the snow outside.
Just then, a clear laugh and a few cheers came from deep within the plum grove.
"Excellent! Miss Su, your archery skills are superb!"
"As expected of the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo! So dashing!"
Jiang Wanzhi looked in the direction of the sound.
Beneath an old plum tree with gnarled and twisted branches stood a young girl dressed in a fiery red riding outfit and covered with a snow-white fox fur coat.
She was tall and slender, like a young poplar tree standing against the wind. Her long, black hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail, revealing a bright, flamboyant, and spirited face.
She held a delicate horn bow in her hand, aimed at a target in the distance. The arrow that had just hit the bullseye was clearly hers.
The daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion... Su Yuyue!
Jiang Wanzhi's pupils suddenly contracted! Her heart began to pound uncontrollably!
It's her! The female lead from the book!
The official pairing of the eldest prince, Zongzheng Zhaoran!
Su Yuyue, who will eventually become the empress and join hands with the male lead to create a prosperous era!
Finally! I finally met him in person!
Jiang Wanzhi felt a surge of excitement, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope!
She struggled to get up, wondering how to approach the girl and make her a familiar face.
However, what happened next struck Jiang Wanzhi like a thunderbolt, leaving her frozen in place, almost dropping the hand warmer in her hand!
After shooting the arrow, Su Yuyue ignored the compliments from those around her and walked straight to a young man next to her, dressed in an indigo brocade robe, with a handsome face and a slightly flamboyant and unruly temperament—the Second Prince, Zongzheng Mingchen!
The bright and flamboyant smile on her face instantly softened, even taking on a hint of subtle naivety.
She casually handed the horn bow to the attendant beside Zongzheng Mingchen, and then very naturally, as if no one else was around, she stretched out her slender hand and gently took Zongzheng Mingchen's arm!
"Your Highness, how did I shoot?" Su Yuyue looked up at Zongzheng Mingchen with bright eyes, her tone carrying a clear sense of intimacy and seeking praise.
Zongzheng Mingchen seemed to have long been accustomed to her closeness. Instead of pushing her away, he laughed loudly, raised his hand and very naturally rubbed the fox fur hat on her head, his eyes filled with undisguised doting: "Yue'er's archery skills are naturally among the best of the young ladies in the capital! Even many men are ashamed of their own inferiority!"
This intimate and natural interaction, this physical contact that disregards others, this tender affection flowing in their eyes—where is the decorum between ruler and subject? They are clearly lovers in the throes of passion!
Boom!
Jiang Wanzhi felt as if something had exploded in her mind!
Official pairing? Female lead? Joining hands to create a prosperous era?
Doesn't the book say that Su Yuyue was deeply in love with the eldest prince, Prince Zhao, and that they eventually became a couple after many twists and turns?
Who is this girl, arm in arm with the Second Prince Ming Wang, smiling sweetly?!
The plot... has fallen apart?!
Is it because I traveled from another time?!
While she was utterly shocked, the Second Prince Zongzheng Mingchen seemed to sense her gaze and looked up towards the warm pavilion.
When his gaze fell on Jiang Wanzhi, who was pale and had a blank expression, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes. Then, his usual flamboyant smile took on a subtle, unspoken meaning.
He didn't let go of Su Yuyue's hand; instead, he led her towards the warm pavilion.
"If I remember correctly, this is Prime Minister Jiang's daughter, Jiang Wanzhi?" Zongzheng Mingchen's voice carried his usual lazy tone as his gaze swept over Jiang Wanzhi's pale face.
"I heard that Miss Jiang was somewhat frightened a few days ago? Are you feeling better? I heard that you and Prince Heng were assassinated?"
In the book, Zong Zhengmingchen is a typical villain, a treacherous and cunning little man. It's best to stay as far away from this kind of person as possible.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "This humble woman has only caught a slight cold; Your Highness, I am sorry to have troubled you."
"As for His Highness Prince Heng..." She paused, feeling Zongzheng Mingchen's gaze suddenly sharpen, and Su Yuyue also turned her head slightly.
Jiang Wanzhi knew there was no way to avoid it, so she carefully chose her words and repeated the imperial physician's diagnosis: "Fortunately, no vital organs were injured, but there was excessive blood loss, so you need to rest and recuperate. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
"Oh?" Zongzheng Mingchen raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening. He took a step forward, almost stepping into the warm pavilion, and an invisible sense of oppression swept over him.
"Take a rest and recuperate? It seems Ninth Brother is quite badly injured this time. What a pity." He said it was a pity, but there was no trace of regret in his tone. Instead, there was a hint of barely perceptible schadenfreude.
His gaze fell on Jiang Wanzhi again, as if trying to see through her: "Speaking of which, I am quite curious. Was the assassin's target that night Ninth Brother... or..."
He deliberately drew out his words, his gaze like a poisoned needle, fixed on Jiang Wanzhi's suddenly raised face, which was filled with fear, "...And you, Miss Jiang, who happened to be in the same car?"
boom!
These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, not only shocking Jiang Wanzhi out of her wits, but also silencing the noble ladies and gentlemen around her who were eavesdropping. They held their breath and stared wide-eyed!
What did King Ming mean by that?
The assassin's target... could be her, Jiang Wanzhi?!
She was a sheltered young woman, the daughter of the prime minister, of noble status. What virtue or ability did she possess to attract such a vicious assassination attempt?
But considering her sudden arranged marriage with Prince Heng... the situation seems far more complex and terrifying than she imagined!
If there was an assassin, it was to kill her...
She suddenly remembered the only assassination attempt mentioned in the original book, which was when the Ming King colluded with the northern barbarian tribes on the border and secretly trained an elite group of assassins, a martial arts force that seemed to be called "Night Hawk Pavilion," with the aim of attacking Lin'an City.
It seems that during this war, he secretly sent assassins to kill Jiang Wanzhi, seemingly to use her life as a gamble to exploit Heng Wang's weakness and force him to retreat.
But that's the story after Jiang Wanzhi marries Zongzheng Hengyu and becomes the Princess Consort of Heng. Right now, she's just the daughter of the Prime Minister's family, not yet capable of becoming the Prince of Heng's weakness. She shouldn't be the target.
However, this Zongzheng Mingchen... plotted a rebellion and instigated war in Lin'an City, causing people to be displaced and countless innocent lives to be lost!
The scenes of bloodshed in the city described in the book... brought tears to the eyes of countless readers!
We can't let someone like that get away with it!
"Your Majesty, be careful with your words!" A clear, deep voice, yet carrying an undeniable authority, suddenly rang out like a sharp blade piercing through ice!
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
On the other side of the pavilion, under the covered walkway, stood a tall and solitary figure. Dressed in a black cloak, his face appeared even paler than snow; it was none other than the Ninth Prince, Heng Wang, who had just recovered from serious injuries.
Zongzheng Hengyu? What's he doing here?
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