Chapter 355: Chapter 356: Assassination Attempt

“Let’s go back,” Pei Huaian said, taking her hand and leading her back.

“Hey, let go of me,” Shao He struggled.

“Stop making trouble! Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something reckless.” Pei Huaian tightened his fist and coughed lightly, stopping her from continuing to struggle.

Shao He instantly stiffened and dared not move, just glaring at him fiercely.

Pei Huaian smiled triumphantly, feeling extremely pleased.

“Greetings to the Fifth Prince, Doctor Shao,” a palace maid suddenly appeared carrying tea, interrupting their ambiguous atmosphere.

Seizing the opportunity, Shao He withdrew her hand and walked over to pick up the teacup. Just about to take a small sip, she unexpectedly smelled something amiss in the tea; her sharp nose detected that something had been added to the drink.

She gave Pei Huaian a look, signaling that there might be something wrong with this maid.

Pei Huaian also felt it was odd for this maid to appear here, as there were hardly any people around and yet she had suddenly shown up carrying tea, obviously heading towards them?

“You… be careful!”

Pei Huaian’s inquisitive words had barely begun when he saw a flash of cold light. The maid dropped the tray in her hands, revealing a short blade concealed in her sleeve.

Shao He, quick with her reflexes, dodged her attack to the side,

Pei Huaian kicked the palace maid to the ground, then grabbed her arm and pulled forward powerfully. The maid cried out in pain and the short blade fell.

Seeing this, Pei Huaian picked up the dagger from the ground and held it against her neck, his cold gaze fixed on her.

“Who sent you?”

The maid, in pain, sweat forming on her forehead, gave a sinister smile and looked at Shao He, “Pah, you’re utterly unworthy of the Fifth Prince. Only our General is worthy!”

Shao He furrowed her brows slightly, feeling something odd about the maid.

“I advise you to confess honestly, or else your fate will be much more miserable than now, perhaps even worse than death.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the maid burst into loud laughter, “Fifth Prince, you really are blind, ignoring such a fine woman like my general, yet foolishly entangling yourself with this woman.”

Shao He narrowed her eyes, hearing the maid blurt out the words ‘our general,’ she felt something was off.

“Only my General is truly suitable for you!” The maid suddenly let out a tearing scream.

Shao He’s eyes widened as she pointed at the maid, “Be careful, she might commit suicide.”

Unfortunately, it was already too late. The maid’s mouth was constantly bleeding; she had already taken poison before coming.

Shao He ran over trying to administer an antidote, but it was too late; the maid already lay motionless on the ground.

He probed her breath with his hand and finally sighed, “She’s dead.”

“Ah Mo, go check the identity of this maid, who she met before dying; we must find out clearly,” Pei Huaian said, his eyes slightly narrowed as he observed the dead maid.

“Yes,” Ah Mo turned and left.

Pei Huaian muttered in a low voice, “Could the general she mentioned be Qi Jiayuan?”

“Impossible, Qi Jiayuan would never do such a thing. She is not so sinister and crafty,” Shao He said with utmost certainty.

This, Pei Huaian knew very well too; based on Qi Jiayuan’s forthright nature, even if there were grievances, she would express them openly and would never resort to deceitful tactics behind the scenes.

All of a sudden, a thought crossed Shao He’s mind, and she said, “Could it be a scheme by the Empress and her son?”

“First, if they can get rid of me, all the better; if not, they can still turn me into an enemy. Secondly, they force you to choose between me and Miss Qi. Whatever choice you make, you’ll lose another ally, a perfect scenario for them,” Shao He analyzed thoroughly.

Having listened, Pei Huaian nodded in agreement, “The Empress and her son are having a tough time, daring to act at a banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager; they must have prepared thoroughly, and it’s unlikely we’ll find any useful information.”

“We have to be more careful, lest we fall into the Empress and her son’s trap,” said Shao He, standing up and looking around vigilantly.

Seeing her cautious demeanor, Pei Huaian frowned slightly and walked over, saying with a hint of apology, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to get you involved in this dispute.”

Although he liked her, he hoped more that she could live a safe and carefree life, doing what she loved without being in a constant state of tension.

Shao He shook her head slightly and whispered, “It’s okay; I already have deep enmity with the Empress and her son. Even if I wanted to retreat, the Empress would not let me go.”

She knew all too well that the Empress, aware of her high medical skills and wanting to win her over, feared an alliance between her and Pei Huaian, prompting her to take action.

Even if she helped no one, the Empress would still not let her go; thus, she could only face the challenge.

“Since you are not afraid, then let’s go and face this together,” Pei Huaian said, taking her hand, and they left together.

Shao He looked at their hands clasped together, feeling a warm surge within her. She looked up at Pei Huaian’s resolute profile, a sense of fulfillment she had never felt before filling her heart.

After all the turmoil, the banquet was almost over; from a distance, they heard the calling of the palace maids.

Pei Huaian led Shao He out and saw a worried palace maid who asked, “What time?”

“Fifth Prince, Doctor Shao, you have finally returned; the Empress Dowager invites you to the banquet,” the palace maid breathed a sigh of relief.

“Understood.”

Pei Huaian dismissed the maid and personally took Shao He to the banquet.