Chapter 302: Chapter 299 Critical Condition

His consciousness gradually dissipated.

The tall body became extremely cumbersome.

As he fell, Sang Yan could barely hold him, and she too staggered.

“Xinyuan!”

She screamed, kneeling to the ground, cushioning his fall with her body.

He Ying lay half on the ground, his upper body nestled in her arms, trying to say something, but he spat out blood.

At that moment, Sang Ruoshui crawled over, trying to push Sang Yan away to embrace the dying man.

She still wanted him to die in her arms.

“Don’t touch him!”

Sang Yan slapped her across the face, sending Sang Ruoshui to the ground, stars in her eyes.

“Emperor!”

Pei Muyang rushed in, terrified at the sight.

The guard following him froze on the spot: The Emperor had been assassinated! On his wedding day, the Emperor had been assassinated! And he was critically wounded!

That dreaded husband-killing fate!

“Someone come quickly! The Emperor is injured!”

Pei Muyang regained his composure, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Call the Imperial Physician! Call the Imperial Physician!”

The scene was chaotic.

Sang Yan would not let anyone touch He Ying.

The dagger was still lodged in his chest.

It must not be moved!

“Where is the Imperial Physician! Where is the Imperial Physician!”

She cried to Pei Muyang, mumbling to herself, “What to do? Someone come… save him, please! Who can… save him!”

“Empress–”

Pei Muyang, looking at the Emperor covered in blood, wanted to console her but did not know what to say.

How could he possibly console her under these circumstances!

The Emperor’s injuries were too severe!

When the Imperial Physician arrived, his breath was barely detectable.

“Quick, quick, prepare to insert needles and sustain life!”

The experienced Imperial Physician opened his medical box, took out several silver needles, and inserted them into various acupoints on He Ying.

Next was treating the wound.

The wound was very severe.

The dagger had gone deep, seemingly piercing the heart.

Tears streamed down Sang Yan’s face, her eyes swollen and red, unable to see clearly inside the wound.

As the Imperial Physician carefully began to remove the dagger–

She closed her eyes, not daring to look.

What happened afterward?

She did not know.

When the dagger was pulled out, his blood splashed onto her face, and she blacked out and passed out.

When she awoke, it was dark.

Pei Muyang had to take charge of the situation in the Imperial Palace after two masters had fallen.

He arrested the assailant, Sang Ruoshui, and confined her in the Prison Department.

He then sealed the news of the Emperor’s assassination and waited for Sang Yan and He Ying to awaken.

But before the two woke up, the news had leaked.

Minister of Revenue Sang Kun, Imperial Censors Feng Ji and Feng Yicheng, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Xie Sui, Hanlin Academy Scholar Jiang Chongyu, and other high officials all waited outside Qingning Palace.

They all sought an audience with the Emperor.

He Ying had not yet woken up.

According to the Imperial Physician, the Emperor’s prospects were grim after this ordeal.

Sang Yan was the first to awake.

The moment she opened her eyes, she called out, “Xinyuan! Xinyuan!”

Qiuzhi, who was at the bedside, held her hand with sympathy and comforted her, “My lady, rest assured, the Emperor is fine.”

She was lying.

The Emperor was temporarily fine.

But the situation was not optimistic.

Now the wound had been treated, but the bleeding hadn’t completely stopped; everything depended on the life-sustaining needles.

Sang Yan, upon hearing that He Ying was unharmed, temporarily set her heart at ease, but also struggled to get out of bed: “I, I need to go see him.”

She was greatly frightened and felt weak all over, barely having any strength.

Qiuzhi helped her out of bed.

No sooner had her feet touched the ground than she collapsed.

Fortunately, Qiuzhi caught her and prevented her from falling.

She continued to struggle to get up, but after taking a few steps, she was so tired that she was gasping for breath.

One step after another.

Before she reached He Ying’s bedside, she saw many soldiers rushing into Qingning Palace.

They turned and faced her, brandishing their swords.

Behind them was Rong Shen, the deputy commander of the imperial guard.

Rong Shen belonged to the Rong Family Army, was the third brother of the Commander, Rong Ye, and stayed in the Capital City to ensure the Emperor’s safety.

Now, it was his moment to protect the Emperor’s safety.

“What do you want?”

Qiuzhi stood in front of Sang Yan with a vigilant face, stretched out her arms to protect her, feigned composure, and demanded an answer.

Rong Shen knew Qiuzhi’s identity and did not speak to her, a mere palace maid, but stared sharply at Sang Yan.

He bore the image of a scholarly figure.

The black armor he wore added a fierce aura to his appearance.

Sang Yan looked at him, her expression numb, and uttered two flat words: “Step aside.”

Rong Shen did not move, his expressionless face imposingly authoritative: “Empress, it is true that your sister, Sang Ruoshui, attempted to assassinate the Emperor. Now, as the Emperor lies unconscious, in order to protect his safety, the entire Imperial Palace has entered high defense mode. Please do not make it difficult for us.”

Upon hearing this, Sang Yan revealed a bewildered expression: “Do you suspect me?”

Rong Shen coldly replied: “Now everyone is suspect.”

Their imperial guard was the confidant of the Emperor.

Armed and empowered, at such a critical moment, even Pei Muyang had to stand aside.

“How dare you!”

Pei Muyang, who was caring for the Emperor, heard the commotion and immediately came over, pointing at Rong Shen and rebuking him: “Deputy Commander Rong, what do you mean by this? What do you intend to do to the Empress? The Empress is the Emperor’s favorite, newly coronated by Da He. To treat her with such disrespect is to rebel, an unforgivable crime!”

“Mr. Pei, you misunderstand.”

Rong Shen still gave Pei Muyang some respect, holding back his aggression as he explained: “The marriage had just ended, and the Emperor was then attacked and fell unconscious. This indicates that the Empress truly has a husband-killing fate. Therefore, for the Emperor’s safety, she should stay away from him.”

At this point, he narrowed his eyes, staring at Pei Muyang, his tone intensifying: “Forgive my frankness, but right now, the Empress should not be near the Emperor. If Mr. Pei truly is loyal and protective, he would also keep the Emperor away from this source of danger.”

Pei Muyang stood there stunned.

He had not expected Rong Shen to bring up the husband-killing fate.

Is the Empress really a husband-killer?

He did not believe it.

But now, the Emperor’s unconscious state from the attack was the strongest evidence.

And the Emperor?

He recalled the Imperial Decree given to him on the eve of the Emperor’s wedding, along with his words.

“The Empress is my life.”

“I want to marry her as my Empress, have her be the mistress of Da He, enjoy the glory of the realm with her.”

“As for her husband-killing fate… Should any misfortune befall me… the Empress might have the heir; you must mediate, help her mercifully govern…”

It turned out the Emperor also felt a slight unease.

Even knowing the risks, he had ignored them.

It really was like knowingly courting danger!

Pei Muyang sighed softly, saying: “The Emperor needs the Empress.”

His instinct also told him–he should not let the Empress be away from the Emperor.

To put it bluntly, if the Emperor were truly on his deathbed, wanting to see someone in his final flicker of consciousness, it would undoubtedly be her.

“Mr. Pei, you are wrong!”

Rong Shen’s face was cold, his tone firm and resolute: “The Emperor does not need her. Never did.”

He belonged to the silent opposition.

He had been silent before because he knew it was pointless.

Now that he spoke out, the situation was different.

“Bring someone–”

He raised his hand, ordering: “Take the Empress to Qifeng Palace!”

His command was beyond dispute.

The soldiers immediately advanced to “invite” her.

“It cannot be!”

Pei Muyang urgently interjected: “The Emperor left a decree; you must not act rashly!”