"Who goes there? This is the Imperial Palace!" Murong Jin shielded Murong Yu with her body, her hand dropping to her waist. But she wore no sword today, only the loose robes of a court lady.
The figure didn't answer. His shadow flickered against the paper window, then vanished.
"Who was that?" Murong Yu clutched Murong Jin's arm, her voice trembling.
Murong Jin stared at the door, shaking her head slowly. Was it Xue Feiyan?
"Assassins! Catch the assassins!" Shouts and the clash of steel erupted from the courtyard.
Suddenly, the doors burst open. A man in black leaped in, his blade gleaming as he lunged straight for Murong Yu.
"Ah!" Murong Yu screamed, gripping Murong Jin's hand tighter.
Murong Jin didn't think. She kicked out, her foot connecting with the assassin's wrist. The impact sent them both stumbling back.
"Who are you?" She stepped forward again, placing herself squarely between the assassin and her cousin.
"You're pregnant. Why risk your life? Step aside. I only want her." He leveled his blade at Murong Yu's throat. The killing intent rolled off him like a wave. Block me, and die.
Murong Jin smiled coldly. She raised her right hand, tracing a circle in the air before clenching it into a fist.
"And if I don't? Your blade may be sharp, but you are not necessarily my match."
"Hah! Arrogant woman."
She glanced past him. Outside, fifty guards were battling a dozen men in black. It was chaos. She was on her own.
The assassin moved. He was fast, a blur of motion. Without a weapon, she was wide open.
She bit her lip, sidestepped, and ripped a heavy curtain from the wall, whipping it toward him.
Rip. The blade sliced through the fabric, continuing its arc toward the frozen Murong Yu.
Murong Jin flicked her wrist. The curtain wrapped around the blade. She yanked back, pulling the assassin off balance. Seizing the moment, she grabbed Murong Yu and pulled her aside.
A sharp pain shot through her abdomen. She couldn't keep this up.
"The Lord of Yuling has skills," the assassin sneered, glancing at the red mark on his hand where the curtain had struck.
She ignored him, her eyes darting to the door. Still fighting.
Swish. She dodged the thin blade by a hair's breadth, spun, and kicked at his waist.
He blocked, then swept his arm out, forcing her back two steps.
"Sister, look out!"
Murong Jin gasped. The remaining half of the curtain whipped out, meeting the blade with the force of steel.
"Then I'll have to kill you to get to her," the assassin growled, turning his full attention to Murong Jin.
There was no way out. She couldn't let Murong Yu die. She was family.
"Jin, go!" Murong Yu pressed herself against the wall. "This is my retribution. Just go!"
Murong Jin didn't answer. Her grip on the curtain tightened.
Suddenly, the sound of marching boots thundered from outside. Reinforcements.
Before she could react, a figure appeared beside her.
He tilted his head, his eyes fixed on the assassin, but his voice was gentle as he spoke to her. "We'll settle this account later."
Her body relaxed. The tension drained from her face, replaced by a smile. With him here, she had nothing to worry about.
"Fifth Prince, the assassins have been subdued." A guard reported. Murong Jin looked down. Under the helmet was Hanlu's face.
"Good." Xue Liulan's gaze never left the assassin. Murong Yu was a key piece in his game. She couldn't die yet.
The assassin's eyes darted around, looking for an escape.
Suddenly, his arm went numb. Before he could pull the silver needle from his skin, his vision blurred, and he collapsed.
"Mafeisan?" Murong Jin whispered.
"Yes. A gift from the Physician Saint." Xue Liulan watched as the guards dragged the assassins away. He had a bad feeling, but he couldn't place it.
Murong Yu recovered from her shock and rushed to Murong Jin, tears streaming down her face.
"Why? Why risk yourself for an outsider like me?"
"To me, you are a Murong," Murong Jin smiled. "If you hadn't changed your name and married in my place, I would never have met Xue Liulan."
She looked at him, her smile tender. Murong Yu's sacrifice had changed her fate.
"Take them away. Watch them closely," Xue Liulan ordered Hanlu. He turned to Murong Jin, checking her over. She was flushed, but unharmed.
"Little Dingzi!"
"Yes, my lord!" The eunuch scrambled over.
"Get the Imperial Physician. Now. Don't delay."
"Yes!" He ran off into the night.
"I'm not hurt. Don't make a fuss," she said, touching his arm.
"We'll talk about that later. Right now, I need to report to Father. Wait here. I'll come back for you." He glared at her, trying to be stern.
He had told her not to come here. He had feared exactly this.
"Your Highness, this assassin… he seems to want to speak," a guard called out.
"Oh?" Xue Liulan raised an eyebrow and walked over.
A cold light flashed.
Murong Jin saw it. Without thinking, she shoved Murong Yu aside.
Ice pierced her body. She grabbed the hand holding the dagger, but her strength was failing.
"Murong Jin!" Xue Liulan screamed.
Hanlu kicked the assassin to the ground, pinning him.
Murong Yu, trembling, tried to pull the dagger from Murong Jin's chest.
"Don't move!" Xue Liulan roared. He was at her side in an instant, taking her cold hand, supporting her weight.
"Xue… Liulan." Darkness was encroaching on her vision. His face was blurring. Her hand clawed at his, weak and useless.
"Don't speak." His voice shook uncontrollably. "Doctor! Get the doctor!"
Her warm blood soaked his hands, burning him. He stared at her paling face, terrified she would vanish.
"Murong Jin, open your eyes. Look at me."
"Mm." A weak sound.
"You have our son. You have to come with me to the Imperial Kitchens to steal food again. Murong Jin, hold on." He knelt, laying her down gently.
"I… will," she whispered, forcing the words out. "I can't bear… to leave you."
Outside the Zhaoyang Palace, Xue Liulan stood rigid. The physician was still inside. Murong Jin's blood was still on his robes.
"My lord, please rest. You've been standing for hours."
"Bring me the man who hurt her," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Little Dingzi hesitated, then ran to obey. Moments later, the assassin was dragged before him, bound.
"My lord, he is here."
Xue Liulan spun around. He snatched a sword from a nearby guard. A flash of steel. Blood seeped from the assassin's neck. Without a sound, the man fell dead.
"If you kill him, how will we find the mastermind?" The Emperor's booming voice. He strode toward his son. "I know he hurt her, but this is lawless."
"Lawless?" Xue Liulan sneered. "He hurt the Princess Consort. He hurt my wife. Therefore, he had to die."
"Liulan, you…" The Emperor was shocked by the hate in his son's face.
"Father." Xue Liulan dropped to his knees. "This concerns my wife. I beg you, allow me to investigate this matter personally."