"Are you crazy?!"
Lin Wanwan's scream, filled with sobs and anger, was like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of Xiao Che's pain.
The faint smile on his face froze instantly, followed by a wave of intense pain that made his already pale face even paler. He groaned and tried to push himself up, but he staggered and nearly fell again.
Only then did the imperial guards and palace servants, who had been terrified, snap out of their daze and swarm around in a chaotic manner.
"His Majesty!"
"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
Lin Wanwan quickly supported his swaying body, only to be horrified to see that the black robe on his back was completely soaked in blood, turning a deeper dark red, and was still dripping blood. The mad horse's fatal blow was incredibly powerful; even if it didn't hit any vital organs directly, it was enough to cause severe shock to his internal organs.
He seemed completely unconcerned about the damage to his body.
After confirming that Lin Wanwan was truly unharmed and only slightly frightened, the last trace of weakness and tenderness in his eyes vanished without a trace, like a candle flame extinguished by a strong wind.
Instead, a storm so cold it could freeze the soul, like the ancient ice of the far north, swept through the land!
He turned his head sharply, his emperor eyes, now devoid of any pretense and sharp as a hawk's, pierced through the chaotic crowd, like two unsheathed, peerless blades, locking onto Consort Su Jinxiu, who was being helped up by palace servants not far away, her face still bearing just the right amount of "panic" and "lingering fear"!
In that instant, Lin Wanwan clearly felt that the temperature of the entire mountain path seemed to drop by more than ten degrees.
If Xiao Che was a dormant volcano covered in ice and snow before, then now, this volcano has been fully awakened.
Lin Wanwan subconsciously looked up at the top of Xiao Che's head.
The next second, she gasped in horror.
That place has gone completely mad!
No longer any funny cartoon images, no longer any cynical or sarcastic comments, but in that area of his inner world, a bizarre yet terrifying scene is unfolding!
A cute, trembling chibi-style emoji with tears streaming down its face, captioned "Thank goodness you're okay.gif".
A meme featuring a demon engulfed in hellfire, its eyes blazing with destructive light, captioned "I want them dead.jpg".
These two extreme emojis, representing extreme fear and extreme rage, are switching back and forth at a speed so fast it's almost like they're going to go blurry!
"Tick-tock...tick-tock..."
It was an illusion of tears and flames intertwined, a concrete manifestation of the joy of surviving a catastrophe and the overwhelming rage that was about to engulf everything, which collided and tore apart deep within his heart!
Lin Wanwan's heart clenched tightly at the terrifying sight. For the first time, she felt so directly how much this man cared about her, and... what terrible consequences would result from touching his sore spot!
"Someone come here!"
Xiao Che spoke.
His voice was no longer gentle, no longer cold, and not even its usual sickly hoarseness. It was a voice squeezed from the deepest part of his chest, filled with a ferocity and murderous intent that sent chills down one's spine! Like a wounded lone wolf issuing a death sentence to all enemies who dared to covet his treasure!
Just two words silenced the chaotic scene instantly. Everyone was so terrified by the unprecedented, overwhelming imperial wrath contained in that voice that they dared not move.
His gaze remained fixed on Su Jinxiu, his voice like a blade chilled to the bone, as he issued the command, word by word:
"Seal off the hunting grounds! No one is allowed to enter or leave!"
"Take down Consort Su... for me!"
He practically squeezed out the last four words through gritted teeth, each one carrying the stench of blood.
This order was like a thunderbolt from the heavens, striking everyone present hard on the head!
To win over Consort Xian?
Everyone was stunned. Wasn't Consort Xian just injured in a fall from her horse? Was she the victim? Why would His Majesty...?
The "panic" on Su Jinxiu's face froze instantly when his gaze fell upon her. Her feigned panic was replaced by an overwhelming, genuine fear and horror. The color drained from her face in an instant, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees, supported by the palace servants!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty is innocent!" She turned pale and cried out on the spot, her voice extremely shrill, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please see the truth!"
However, Xiao Che didn't even glance at her again.
It was as if, the moment she was defined as an "enemy," she was already a dead person in his eyes.
His gaze remained fixed on Lin Wanwan from beginning to end. His gaze was focused and obsessive, as if she were the only important thing in this bloody and chaotic world, the only thing that could reassure him of his existence.
He staggered, pushed away the imperial guards who tried to help him, and walked slowly and laboriously toward Lin Wanwan.
Behind him were Su Jinxiu's desperate cries, the cold clatter of the Imperial Guards' armor, and the impending bloodbath.
But in his eyes, there was only her.
He walked up to her, and under the gaze of her eyes filled with shock and worry, he slowly, with a slight tremor, extended his hand.
That hand, with its distinct knuckles and stained with his own blood, seemed to want to touch her cheek, to use the most tangible touch to confirm her safety, and to soothe the lingering fear in his heart that almost devoured him.
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