Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Way of Health Maintenance

"Assassins! Protect the Emperor!"

"Shields! Protect the Empress Dowager!"

"Quick, hide!"

Amidst a shower of arrows and the shouts of guards, along with the screams of noble ladies, Leng Jiu swiftly pulled down the thick curtains of the carriage in a split second. Though unsure if they could withstand metal arrows, they would at least offer some buffer and lessen the impact.

"Thud, thud!" Although the guards outside blocked many arrows, some still penetrated, but fortunately, the fabric was strong enough to stop them after piercing through.

"Clang, clang, clang!" Following a volley of arrows, close combat ensued. Peering through a gap, Leng Jiu saw swarms of assassins in black converging from all directions, a clear sign of a substantial investment by their adversaries.

"Empress Dowager! Are you alright?" Lu Chang crawled out from under the carriage, his limbs still shaky from fright, apparently having hidden there during the initial scare and not yet recovered.

"Enough! You'd better stay hidden. What could happen to me?" Leng Jiu glanced at him, then turned to look behind. Hua Jinzhi and a group of young nobles were guarding a cluster of noble daughters. His gaze was anxious as he looked in her direction, seemingly eager to come over, but he was entangled with enemies and couldn't break free.

Leng Jiu retrieved her Qingfeng Sword from under the pillow, hesitating for a while before finally sitting down. With most of the martial artists around possessing internal strength, she knew that even her best skills wouldn't suffice to kill many. Besides, as the Empress Dowager, even if she fought valiantly, it wouldn't be celebrated. Why bother with such a thankless task?

"Emperor! Emperor!" Grand Eunuch Qu's wails drew Cold Jiu's attention to Emperor Longyi, who had sustained a deep cut on his arm. Despite Grand Eunuch Qu's melodramatic despair, Cold Jiu couldn't help but feel unimpressed. It was just a minor wound, after all.

As the carriage jolted, Jinyin finally made his way over, lifting the curtain with a look of concern, "Are you alright?"

Cold Jiu shook her head, "What could possibly happen to me..." Before she could finish, her pupils dilated, and she abruptly pulled Jinyin inside. With a swift move, she caught an arrow tipped with gold, stopping it short of fully penetrating her forehead, though it did draw blood.

Jinyin, regaining his senses and seeing her injury, exclaimed in horror, "Are you out of your mind?"

Nonchalantly discarding the golden arrow, Cold Jiu replied, "As you see, I'm not dead yet."

Jinyin, observing the wound on her forehead, felt a chilling rage mixed with anxiety. The slightest increase in speed or depth of that arrow could have been fatal. The thought sent shivers down his spine.

Cold Jiu, pressing a handkerchief to her brow, pushed him out, "Don't hide here. Go out and fight, or else we'll be overwhelmed soon."

Jinyin took several deep breaths to calm himself. His anger, still brewing, was unleashed furiously upon the assassins, each strike delivered with ruthless precision.

The battle raged for a quarter of an hour, with the assailants eventually retreating, leaving behind a bloody aftermath.

Many officials were injured, two fourth-rank officers perished, while the young ladies were well protected, though many fainted from fear. Emperor Longyi and Cold Jiu, each with an injured arm and forehead, were the day's most notable casualties. Cold Jiu's injury might seem minor, but considering its location, nobody could take it lightly.

Hua Yuxuan, learning of Cold Jiu's near-fatal injury, was infuriated to know it resulted in just a superficial wound. She was vexed that Cold Jiu hadn't died. Jinyin, while concerned for Cold Jiu, was also angry at her recklessness and his inability to protect her, leading to a cold war between them.

Emperor Longyi, infuriated by his injury, prioritized treatment over investigation. With his attention divided between the border unrest and his wound, he had little time to visit Cold Jiu. Meanwhile, Jinyin's fallout with Cold Jiu continued, with no communication since the incident.

Back at the palace, Emperor Longyi was preoccupied with identifying the assassins and addressing the border turmoil, leaving him no time to see Cold Jiu. For her part, Cold Jiu seemed unfazed by the assassination attempt, treating it as just another event in her life.

Leng Jiu lay on the bed playing with Kano, a white bandage tied around her forehead and medicine applied to the cut between her brows. Though the wound wasn't severe, it had marred her appearance, so the imperial physicians were taking no chances.

Lu Chang, having heard some news, approached Leng Jiu and reported, "I've heard that barbarians beyond the borders are causing disturbances, slaughtering several villages and spreading panic. The Emperor has ordered the Left Guard General to lead his Eagle Troops to quell them. We should hear news of their success soon."

Leng Jiu appeared indifferent, "Why are you telling me this?"

Lu Chang chuckled lightly, "Empress Dowager, you truly have forgotten everything. The Left Guard General, Leng Yue, is your biological brother. Doesn’t that concern you?"

Leng Jiu's eyes lifted as she recalled her original identity. She was the daughter of the Grand General who had left the imperial city when the new Emperor ascended the throne. Now serving as the Governor of two provinces in the southwest, he commanded an army of three hundred thousand and was a significant provincial official. Her only brother, the Left Route General, led the Empire's strongest Eagle Troops. Though only fifty thousand strong, each soldier was worth ten ordinary men. His military achievements were remarkable, and at just twenty-three or twenty-four, he was an unmatched general, with no second in the Empire.

Apart from a few prince's mansions, Leng Jiu was considered one of the most powerful and prestigious families in the Feng Yu Dynasty. However, a few years ago, an imperial decree had reassigned her father to the border, and Leng Yue had been stationed beyond the frontier. Although the Leng family still held military power, their focus had shifted away from the imperial city. The old Emperor dared to entrust such considerable military power to the Leng family, unafraid of them causing trouble on the frontier, likely because of Leng Jinghua's entry into the palace. In essence, it was a trade, with Leng Jinghua as a hostage.

Even without her memories and not fully understanding the situation, Leng Jiu didn't bother to ponder it. She was herself, and the past had no bearing on her. She would only worry about such things after her basic needs were met.

After a peaceful couple of days in the palace, Long Yue Li finally sneaked in at midnight, himself injured. Reportedly, he was attacked on his way back last time. The wound wasn't severe, but it was on his softest spot - the waist.

Leng Jiu looked at him lying on the bed, his waist still bandaged, yet his face bore a carefree and flirtatious air. She couldn't help but tease, "Looks like you're not dying anytime soon! Truly a disaster that lasts a thousand years."