Chapter 343
**Chapter 341: Who Are You?**
As she left the palace, Shen Wei was accompanied only by her two trusted aides, Cai Lian and Ji Xiang. Cai Ping and Mama Rong stayed behind to maintain order in the harem.
Cai Lian replied, “My lady, we still need half an hour. Please have some fruit to tide you over.”
She brought over a plate of candied fruits.
Just as Shen Wei finished half the plate, she suddenly heard the call of Eunuch De Shun: “Your Highness! Your Highness!”
De Shun stumbled over, his face glistening with sweat. “My lady! The Emperor requests that you return to the royal manor at once—there’s been an assassination attempt during the plowing ceremony, and the guards are fighting them off.”
Shen Wei asked, “Is the Emperor in danger?”
De Shun replied, “The Tiger Guards, the Imperial Army, and the City Defense Forces are all present. The Emperor is safe.”
Shen Wei sprang to her feet, finishing the remaining candied fruits in one swift motion. “Cai Ping, immediately summon the noble ladies to the royal manor—tell them I’ve prepared a luncheon there, and everyone must be seated. Do not mention the assassins to avoid causing panic.”
Cai Ping, who had been with Shen Wei for many years, remained calm in the face of crisis. She composedly led the eunuchs to relay the message.
Before long, the noble ladies returned one after another, joyfully entering the royal manor for the feast, completely unaware of the assassination attempt happening next door.
The royal manor was elegantly decorated, a serene haven where the ladies gathered in delight, toasting and laughing, the atmosphere filled with joy.
Shen Wei sat behind a beaded curtain, separated from the ladies. Eunuch De Shun leaned in and detailed the events of the assassination attempt during the plowing ceremony.
It turned out that during the ceremony, there was a ritual called “Hundred People Plowing,” which involved gathering two hundred farmers from Yanjing to plow alongside the Emperor in the same field.
You could think of it as “extras” in a play.
These two hundred farmers were carefully selected by officials from the Ministry of Rites, their backgrounds clean. However, at the ceremony, they pulled hidden blades from their farming tools, attempting to assassinate the Emperor.
Shen Wei pondered, “The Ministry of Rites has made a grave error, allowing a group of assassins to infiltrate the farmers’ list.”
“The Imperial Army and the Tiger Guards are mobilized to capture these assassins alive,” De Shun reassured her, noticing her worry. “There’s no need for concern, my lady; the Emperor was prepared.”
Shen Wei waited patiently for half an hour, but no news came from outside.
She could wait no longer.
Rather than waste time waiting idly, she decided to venture out and find out whether Li Yuanjing was alive or dead.
She had to prepare for the worst—if Li Yuanjing had unfortunately perished, she needed to stabilize the situation quickly and write to her brother Shen Mieyue in Liangzhou, urging him to return to the capital to support her and help her son ascend to power.
If Li Yuanjing was still alive, her reckless pursuit would also be an expression of love.
Shen Wei quickly changed into her regular attire, concealing a dagger in her sleeve, and set out with the four Tiger Guards assigned to her by Li Yuanjing.
“My lady, I’ll accompany you!” Cai Lian grasped Shen Wei’s sleeve.
Shen Wei patted her hand. “Stay here and keep an eye on the ladies. Don’t let them act rashly. I have four Tiger Guards with me; no one can harm me.”
Cai Lian nodded, her worry evident as she choked back tears.
...
Shen Wei moved swiftly, hurrying along the mountain path. The four Tiger Guards followed closely behind, their eyes filled with surprise.
They hadn’t expected the delicate princess to run so fast through the wilderness.
In spring, flowers bloomed all over the hills, and a rushing river flowed nearby. Shen Wei caught a glimpse of tents in the distance, crowded with people. That was the scene of the plowing ceremony; she could see many people but had no idea of the specifics.
“Your Highness, be careful!” one of the Tiger Guards blocked her path, deflecting an incoming arrow.
Shen Wei quickly halted, her heart racing, and ducked behind a tree, leaving the battlefield to the four skilled Tiger Guards.
A group of assassins had emerged from nowhere, and Shen Wei had stumbled upon them. Hiding behind a massive locust tree, she could hear the clash of swords and the faint scent of blood in the air.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she cautiously peeked out to assess the situation. If the four Tiger Guards couldn’t handle it, she would run without looking back.
Leaning against the locust tree, she tried to steady her rapid breathing.
Suddenly, a bony hand quietly landed on her shoulder, giving it a gentle pat. Shen Wei instinctively drew the dagger from her sleeve and turned to stab—
*Thud—*
The sound of the blade slicing through skin.
Li Yuanli firmly grasped the sharp edge of the dagger with his right hand, crimson blood flowing from his palm. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re quite fierce.”
Shen Wei stared at the familiar yet strange handsome face before her.
She asked, “Who are you?”
Li Yuanli sighed in disappointment. “You really have a terrible memory.”
Shen Wei felt goosebumps rise on her arms; his words implied that she was some heartless woman who had abandoned her husband.
She scrutinized his enchanting face, which was strikingly beautiful, with features that were both alluring and androgynous. His eyes were delicately shaped, exuding a hint of mischief. Dressed in deep purple attire, he had a tall and slender figure.
Over the years, Shen Wei had encountered many people and dealt with numerous complex matters. She racked her brain for a moment and finally recalled who he was. Tentatively, she asked, “Prince Heng?”
In that instant, many things clicked into place for Shen Wei.
Li Yuanjing had been attacked during the plowing ceremony, and it was highly likely that this man was behind it.
The Southern Chu envoy “Lu Xiao,” who had intruded into the imperial garden, was probably also this man in disguise.
The Emperor of Southern Chu was so idle that he disguised himself to stir up trouble in the Kingdom of Qing, right under the Emperor’s nose!
What a bold Emperor he was.
Recognizing Li Yuanli as Prince Heng, Shen Wei felt no fear. She pressed the dagger harder, intending to kill him on the spot.
*To be continued on the next page for more exciting content!*
“Tsk, you’re still so fierce,” Li Yuanli said, firmly holding onto the dagger, his palm nearly sliced open, blood still flowing.
The pain in his palm was sharp, the blade cutting through flesh and sinew, potentially crippling his right hand. Yet, Li Yuanli even had the leisure to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth with his left hand, his enchanting eyes fixed intently on Shen Wei, sparkling with excitement.
Shen Wei gasped.
This Southern Chu Emperor was acting strangely, like a bloodthirsty maniac.
The more she fought back, the more exhilarated he seemed.
Shen Wei sneered, “The plowing ceremony is heavily guarded. No matter how many assassins you summon, you won’t be able to kill the Emperor. Knowing it’s a dead end, why do you still throw yourself into the fire? What are you plotting?”
Li Yuanli studied Shen Wei’s fair and delicate face, his gaze burning with intensity, memorizing every inch of her features, etching them into his heart.
He smirked slightly. “I came for you. Do you believe me?”
Shen Wei twisted the dagger, pushing it deeper. “I don’t believe you.”
Li Yuanli sighed. “I speak from the heart; you’re truly cold-hearted.”
His gaze was too strange, making Shen Wei feel uneasy.
On the other side of the locust tree, the Tiger Guards and Li Yuanli’s men were still locked in combat. Li Yuanli listened intently for a moment, realizing his men were at a disadvantage. This was no place to linger. With a sudden force, he wrenched the dagger from Shen Wei’s grip.
*Swish—*
Blood splattered.
Li Yuanli carefully tucked Shen Wei’s dagger into his pocket and politely extended an invitation. “The flowers are blooming; come with me to enjoy them.”
Shen Wei raised her foot to kick him, snarling, “Go enjoy paper flowers in your grave!”
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