Chapter 132 Severe Injury

Chapter 132: Severely Wounded

His eyes were completely devoid of warmth.

The sudden turn of events left everyone present utterly shocked.

"Quick! Protect His Majesty!"

The imperial guards swiftly stepped forward with their blades, killing the arrow-pierced tiger that was gasping its last breaths. The Emperor, eyes wide, clutched the pale-faced woman in his arms and cried out, "Empress—!"

The rapid succession of events had unfolded too quickly. Shen Huai looked down at the Empress in his arms, his heart utterly shaken.

He never could have imagined that in such a perilous moment, the one who would disregard her own life to shield him with her body would be his wedded wife—the woman he had always treated coldly, never once cherished.

Without the slightest hesitation, she had leapt forward in that critical instant, blocking what could have been a fatal strike for him.

Blood poured ceaselessly from the wound on the Empress’s shoulder, soaking nearly his entire hand. Her body had gone limp, and though Shen Huai held her tightly to prevent her from slipping away, he could feel her life slipping away.

His voice carried a slight tremor. "The imperial guards were right there, Empress. Why did you have to do this?"

"You are my husband," the Empress murmured, her brows tightly knit as though enduring immense pain. Yet, upon hearing The Emperor’s voice, she managed a weak smile. "How could I... let you face danger...?"

"Summon the physicians! Now!" Seeing the Empress in agony yet still forcing herself to endure, Shen Huai felt both heartache and guilt. He glared furiously at the officials rushing forward and roared, "Find out how this happened! If anything happens to the Empress, you'll all pay for this!"

With the Empress wounded and unable to be moved recklessly, he looked down at her, truly seeing the woman who had stood by his side for years for the first time—only to realize how fragile she truly was.

In the past, he had disliked the Empress, believing her to be merely a political choice imposed by The Empress Dowager, someone to be treated with polite courtesy at best.

Thus, he had always kept his distance from her, never showing her any real affection.

Even after she bore him Princess Lanying, his demeanor toward her had not warmed in the slightest.

They were husband and wife, Emperor and Empress, yet no trace of tenderness had ever existed between them.

In his mind, the Empress was an excellent helpmate—she had managed the Crown Prince’s residence in the past and now handled the imperial harem, leaving him with little to worry about.

So he granted her the dignity, status, and authority befitting her position, yet never gave her even a moment's thought.

Not long ago, displeased with her, he had even neglected her for over half a year, refusing to restore her authority over the harem even after her recovery from illness.

Despite all this, the Empress had never harbored a shred of resentment. And now, at this critical juncture, she had stepped forward without hesitation to save him from peril.

Watching her body tremble faintly with pain in his arms, Shen Huai was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of remorse and regret, threatening to drown him entirely.

Before the imperial tent, palace servants dragged away the tiger’s carcass while the physicians hurried over in panic, bowing deeply. "We beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness for our delay!"

With the Empress wounded by an arrow and The Emperor nearly mauled by the beast, everyone present was breaking out in cold sweat over the gravity of the situation.

Shen Huai’s voice was cold with rage. "If anything happens to the Empress, none of you will be spared!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Empress was carefully lifted onto a stretcher by the palace servants and swiftly carried back to her own tent.

Shen Huai’s robes were splattered with dark red blood, his expression so dark it looked murderous.

Su Jiaojiao could never have imagined that the Empress would have the courage to go this far.

At the moment she saw the Empress taking the arrow for the Emperor, she even asked herself—if Shen Huai were in danger by her side, could she risk her life to save him?

But the answer was something she couldn’t be sure of.

The Emperor and Empress were standing directly north, while she and Noble Consort Lan stood to the left, separated by a few meters.

Supported by Yu Ying, she watched as the Empress was carried onto a stretcher, still shaken from the shock.

Seeing the Emperor about to accompany the Empress, a complicated emotion surged in Su Jiaojiao’s heart—something like loss, yet heavier than mere disappointment.

It was as if something had stuck in her throat, choking her, suddenly leaving her short of breath.

She lifted her gaze toward the Emperor, only to see him shoot her a cold look before striding away without looking back.

In this moment, the opulent riding outfit she wore seemed nothing but a mockery.

Standing beside Su Jiaojiao, Noble Consort Lan glanced at the chaotic crowd ahead and remarked coolly, "The Empress took the arrow for the Emperor but suffered grave injuries—a tremendous service to the realm. But given the urgency, the imperial procession will likely return to the palace soon."

She glanced at Su Jiaojiao, covering her lips with a light cough. "What’s done is done. The Emperor’s safety is the greatest blessing. Your Ladyship should put your mind at ease."

Everyone in the palace knew just how much the Emperor favored Consort Zhen, so when Noble Consort Lan saw the Emperor’s tension and guilt after the Empress saved him, she rightly guessed that Su Jiaojiao would feel distressed.

But since the situation was irreversible, Noble Consort Lan could only offer verbal comfort—after all, the Empress’s actions this time were beyond reproach.

Not just the Emperor—no one could remain unmoved by such a selfless act.

When someone steps in to save you at the risk of their own life, who could remain indifferent?

Especially when that person is your wife of many years.

Su Jiaojiao knew this all too well.

Yet when faced with the reality, the emotions in her heart proved far more complicated.

With the Empress severely injured, the imperial consorts were expected to attend to her. Moreover, since the Emperor had already gone, their absence would only draw criticism.

Su Jiaojiao took a deep breath and said softly, "Let’s go."

Inside the Empress’s tent, the accompanying imperial physicians consulted urgently, selecting the best treatment method with utmost care.

Shen Huai gripped the Empress’s hand tightly, demanding through clenched teeth, "How is the Empress’s condition?"

Imperial Physician Lin, the most senior among them, wiped sweat from his brow and bowed. "Your Majesty, the arrow struck Her Majesty’s right shoulder—a severe penetrating wound, just an inch from exiting the shoulder. The location is dangerously close to the lungs. Removing the arrow carries great risk... it may damage the lungs."

The Emperor’s expression darkened further as he clenched the Empress’s icy hand. "I don’t want to hear excuses! You are the most experienced physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau—can you not even treat a mere wound? Ensure the Empress’s survival. I will not tolerate failure!"

"Yes! We will swiftly devise the most suitable method to treat Her Majesty," Imperial Physician Lin replied, wiping his forehead repeatedly, casting anxious glances at his colleagues behind him, under immense pressure.

As they withdrew to deliberate, the tent fell silent, save for the sound of the wind and the Empress’s soft moans of pain.

Su Jiaojiao and Noble Consort Lan waited outside the gauzy curtain, peering through at the scene within.

The Emperor’s tension and concern for the Empress told Su Jiaojiao one thing—the Empress had bet everything—and won.

Perhaps others didn’t realize it, seeing only the Empress’s selfless sacrifice for the Emperor—a model of virtue and devotion.

But in all the world, few understood the Empress as well as Su Jiaojiao.

She had long known the Empress would make a grand move to seize power—but she never expected that someone as cautious as the Empress would abandon all schemes and risk her life for a greater advantage.

In hindsight, if Su Jiaojiao were in the Empress's position, this gamble would’ve been the best possible outcome.

What the Empress cared about most was her status and position, yet she had no legitimate son, her family wasn’t especially distinguished, and the Emperor had always kept her at arm’s length.

Moreover, Su Jiaojiao was drowning in imperial favor, with a father like Su Chang, who wielded immense power. Sooner or later, she’d bear a prince—one who might be named crown prince by the Emperor.

The Empress feared her more than anyone else in the palace. But Su Jiaojiao was no easy opponent; any strike against her would leave marks.

Even if Su Jiaojiao were removed, there’d be no stopping another favorite from rising to threaten the Empress’s position in the future.

Rather than living in constant fear of losing her status, it was better to roll the dice—to etch herself into the Emperor’s heart.

Su Jiaojiao didn’t know how long the Empress had meticulously planned this, but she knew the Empress had won—for now.

What the Empress wanted was written plain as day in the Emperor’s face.

But what if the Emperor learned that everything the Empress had done was part of a cold-blooded scheme?

What if he discovered that the very things that moved and shamed him were all orchestrated by the Empress—even gambling with the Emperor’s life?

The Empress believed her scheme was hidden well enough, that no one would suspect someone could manipulate the tiger’s movements. But Su Jiaojiao had been watching her closely and had already sniffed out her scheme.

Man leaves fingerprints—always.

The hardest part now was that the Empress’s injury would likely force an early return to the palace within days. The hunting grounds were far from the inner court, and while Su Jiaojiao’s network of informants was well-established in the palace, here, she was flying blind.

This grand hunt involved countless people—nobles, royals, attendants—turning investigation into a needle in a haystack.

The mess of it all made Su Jiaojiao’s temples throb.

Noble Consort Lan noticed her unease and flicked her a glance that said, *Well?*

Su Jiaojiao shook her head slightly.

Just then, the imperial physicians hurried back inside the tent to present their plan for removing the arrow. Shortly after, the Emperor emerged, lifting the curtain.

Inside were the physicians, medical attendants, and palace maids, while the ministers waited outside the main tent. That left only the Emperor, Su Jiaojiao, and Noble Consort Lan standing before the curtain.

Su Jiaojiao tilted her head slightly to look at the Emperor, then at the dried blood staining his robes. Her voice honeyed as she said, "Your Majesty must be shaken. Perhaps you should change your clothes first."

After a few moments of silence,

she lifted her gaze again—only to meet the Emperor’s stare like frostbite—sharp, mocking, utterly cold.