This time when leaving the palace, Shen Wei only brought her two most trusted confidantes, Cai Lian and Ji Xiang. Cai Ping and Nanny Rong remained in the palace to maintain order in the rear court.
Cai Lian answered, "Mistress, it will take another half an hour. Please have some fruit to tide you over." She presented a plate of candied fruits.
Shen Wei had just finished half the plate when she suddenly heard the urgent call of Eunuch Deshun: "Imperial Consort! Imperial Consort!"
Deshun stumbled over, his face drenched in sweat, and gasped, "Mistress! His Majesty orders you to return to the imperial villa immediately—assassins have appeared during the Plowing Ceremony, and the guards are holding them off."
Shen Wei asked, "Is His Majesty in danger?"
Deshun replied, "The Tiger Guards, Imperial Guards, and City Defense Army are all present. His Majesty will be safe."
Shen Wei stood up abruptly, finishing the remaining candied fruits. "Cai Ping, immediately summon the noblewomen and ladies into the villa—inform them that I have prepared a luncheon banquet inside, and everyone must attend. Do not breathe a word about the assassins to avoid causing panic."
Having served Shen Wei for years, Cai Ping remained composed in emergencies. Calmly, she led the eunuchs to relay the orders.
Soon, the noblewomen and ladies returned one after another, entering the villa with cheerful smiles, completely unaware of the assassination attempt on the emperor nearby.
Inside the villa, the elegant decor exuded tranquility. The women chatted and laughed, toasting and feasting in high spirits.
Shen Wei sat behind a beaded curtain, separated from the ladies. Eunuch Deshun leaned in and relayed the details of the Plowing Ceremony incident.
It turned out that during the ceremony, there was a ritual called "A Hundred Men Plowing Together." Two hundred farmers from Yanjing were gathered to plow the same field alongside the emperor—essentially, "extras" for the event.
These farmers had been meticulously vetted by the Ministry of Rites, their backgrounds clean. Yet, at the ceremony, they suddenly drew hidden blades from their farming tools and attempted to assassinate the emperor.
Shen Wei frowned. "The Ministry of Rites is utterly incompetent, letting assassins slip into the farmer roster."
"The Imperial Guards and Tiger Guards have mobilized to capture the assassins alive," Deshun reassured her, seeing her worry. "Mistress need not fret. His Majesty was prepared."
Shen Wei waited impatiently for half an hour, but no news arrived.
She couldn’t wait any longer.
Rather than waste time, she decided to venture out and assess the situation—to see whether Li Yuanjing was dead or alive.
She had to prepare for the worst. If Li Yuanjing had perished, she needed to stabilize the court immediately and send word to her elder brother, Shen Mieyue, in Liangzhou, urging him to return to the capital and support her in securing the throne for her son.
If Li Yuanjing survived, her rushing to his side would be a testament to her devotion.
Shen Wei quickly changed into plain attire, hiding a dagger in her sleeve. With four Tiger Guards assigned by Li Yuanjing, she prepared to search for him.
"Mistress, let me accompany you!" Cai Lian clutched her sleeve.
Shen Wei patted her hand. "Stay here and keep an eye on these women. Don’t let them act rashly. With four Tiger Guards by my side, no one can harm me."
Cai Lian nodded tearfully, though still anxious.
...
Shen Wei moved swiftly, hurrying along the mountain path. The four Tiger Guards followed, surprised by her speed—unexpected for a pampered consort to navigate the wilderness so adeptly.
Spring flowers blanketed the hills, and a rushing river cut through the landscape. In the distance, Shen Wei glimpsed the ceremonial tents, swarming with people. That was the Plowing Ceremony site, though the chaos made it impossible to discern details.
"Consort, be careful!" A Tiger Guard leaped in front of her, deflecting an arrow that whistled through the air.
Shen Wei skidded to a halt, darting behind a tree and leaving the fight to the guards.
Assassins emerged from nowhere, and Shen Wei found herself caught in the fray. She pressed against the thick trunk of an ancient locust tree, the clang of blades ringing in her ears, the scent of blood faint in the air.
Wiping sweat from her brow, she cautiously peeked out to assess the battle. If the guards faltered, she would flee without hesitation.
As she leaned against the tree, steadying her breath, a slender, elegant hand suddenly rested on her shoulder, giving a light pat.
Shen Wei instantly drew her dagger and spun around—
Thud.
The blade sliced flesh.
Li Yuanli caught the dagger’s edge with his bare hand, blood dripping from his palm. His lips curled into a smirk as he remarked, "How fierce."
Shen Wei stared at the strikingly handsome yet unfamiliar face.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Li Yuanli sighed in mock disappointment. "Your memory is truly lacking."
Goosebumps rose on Shen Wei’s arms. His tone made her sound like some heartless villain who abandoned her family.
She studied his face—ethereally beautiful, almost androgynous, with sharp, fox-like eyes that gleamed with mischief. Dressed in deep purple robes, he stood tall and lean.
Over the years, Shen Wei had encountered countless people and weathered many storms. After a moment’s thought, recognition dawned. "Prince Heng?"
In that instant, everything clicked.
The assassination attempt on Li Yuanjing during the Plowing Ceremony? Almost certainly orchestrated by this man.
The Southern Chu envoy "Lu Xiao" who infiltrated the palace gardens? Undoubtedly him in disguise.
The emperor of Southern Chu had the audacity to sneak into Qing State, stirring trouble right under Li Yuanjing’s nose!
What a reckless ruler.
Once she identified him as Prince Heng, Li Yuanli, Shen Wei felt no fear. She pressed the dagger deeper, intent on killing him then and there.
"Tsk, still so ruthless," Li Yuanli mused, gripping the blade tighter. His palm was nearly split open, blood flowing freely.
Despite the pain—the blade severing tendons, possibly crippling his hand—he casually wiped blood from his lips with his other hand, his mesmerizing eyes locked onto Shen Wei with unsettling excitement.
Shen Wei inhaled sharply.
This Southern Chu emperor was truly deranged, reveling in bloodshed like a madman.
The more she fought, the more exhilarated he became.
Shen Wei scoffed. "The Plowing Ceremony is heavily guarded. Even with an army of assassins, you’d never succeed. Why throw your life away? What’s your game?"
Li Yuanli studied her delicate, composed face, his gaze burning as if memorizing every detail, etching it into his heart.
His lips curved. "What if I said I came for you? Would you believe me?"
Shen Wei twisted the dagger, driving it deeper. "No."
Li Yuanli sighed. "Such cruelty to dismiss my sincerity."
His unsettling stare made her skin crawl.
Behind the locust tree, the Tiger Guards and Li Yuanli’s men still clashed. Listening briefly, Li Yuanli realized his forces were losing. With a swift motion, he wrenched the dagger from her grasp.
Splat.
Blood sprayed.
Li Yuanli carefully tucked Shen Wei’s dagger into his pocket, then extended a courteous invitation: "The mountain flowers are in full bloom—come admire them with me."
Shen Wei kicked out at him, snarling, "Go admire paper funeral flowers in your grave!"
