Chapter 36: The Assassin Part 2

The bloodstains stood out starkly on her pale face, paired with faint tear tracks in her pitiful yet stubborn eyes. A thirteen-year-old girl facing such a bloody horror without hysterics was remarkable. Even the iron-willed Yuan Qingming pitied her. He sheathed his spear, had a horse brought for the carriage, and planned to deliver her to the Prince’s Mansion himself.

But the area was a mess of corpses. The Imperial Guards cleared a path by moving the bodies.

Xun Changqing climbed aboard first, then turned. “Yuan Commander, no need to escort me. The assassins escaped—better send men after them. His Majesty is probably waiting for your report. Go to the palace first. They won’t dare come again anyway.”

Under the Emperor’s feet, such brazen assassins slapped the throne’s face. And Xun Changqing was imperial kin—this was no small matter. Yuan Qingming saluted with clasped fists, mounted, and led his men back to the palace to report.

The assassins wouldn’t escape; the Imperial Guards would search house by house in the Imperial Capital.

When the carriage returned to the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion, Zi Jin, who had waited anxiously, rushed down the steps. After Xun Changqing dismounted, she inspected her thoroughly and sighed in relief, still shaken.

“County Princess, next time you enter the palace, bring more escorts. When the Imperial Guards sent word, this old servant nearly fainted. Thankfully, you’re unharmed.” Steward Yuyin, formerly in service to Eldest Princess Xun Qihuan, was seasoned through two reigns, kind and capable. The Princess Consort’s unexplained disappearance had weighed on him, but now the young County Princess was back, giving the mansion a master again—only for this to happen before twelve hours passed.

The more he thought, the more fearful he grew. He bolstered the guards, fortifying the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion even more. In future, the County Princess should travel with more escorts.

…

The Emperor’s fury was sure to be greater.

Yuan Qingming hurried to the palace on fast horseback and reported everything in detail.

The already oppressive atmosphere in Containment Origin Hall grew suffocating after his final word.

The Emperor behind the dragon desk froze, then slammed the table, eyes blazing. “Outrageous! Under heaven’s son, assassinations one after another— is there no law left?”

Yuan Qingming knelt motionless, head bowed. “This subject’s negligence allowed the young County Princess to be attacked upon her return to the capital. Fortunately, she wasn’t injured. The assassin clashed with me and was wounded in the shoulder. With the gates sealed and house-to-house searches, we’ll capture the culprit.”

That morning, he’d patrolled the city walls. Passing by, he saw panicked crowds fleeing, shouting of murder. He wheeled around to the street, arriving just in time to save Xun Changqing. Half a moment later, and she’d have been another imperial kin slain without cause.

“I ask you— was the young County Princess injured?” The Emperor suddenly recalled Xun Yishu’s death by poison—a mere scratch had killed him. No grave wound didn’t mean safety.

Yuan Qingming hadn’t connected the dots and shook his head uncertainly. The Emperor immediately dispatched imperial physicians to the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion.

After arrangements, Xun Ziqian’s anger lingered, his cheeks twitching faintly. “Truly rebellious. She only returned last night—how did someone know she’d pass there this morning? Whose intelligence is so swift?”

Involving court affairs, Yuan Qingming kept silent. He only guarded the Imperial Capital’s safety; he ignored princely struggles or factional fights.

The Emperor glanced at the uneasy Yuan Qingming and bade him rise. “Today, We heard a rumor. Yuan Qingming, did you hear it?”

Unsure what he meant, the immense pressure forced Yuan Qingming to shake his head feigned ignorance. “This subject doesn’t know. Your Majesty knows I only returned to the capital yesterday.”

The Emperor’s gaze fell on the memorials. Nonchalantly: “Rumors say We suspect the Pingnan Prince, summoning Xun Changqing as a hostage. If Xun Yi shows disloyalty, We’ll kill her to threaten him.”

“Your Majesty, this is slander,” Yuan Qingming replied respectfully.

With that, silence fell. The Emperor’s face darkened. “You say Xun Yi, far in the Southwest, is the most protective. He once petitioned to bring the Princess Consort and Xun Changqing there—We refused. Now knowing his precious daughter is in the capital, he’ll likely petition again to take her away, fearing We’ll devour her.”

Finally, the Emperor added: “Yuan Qingming, what do you think Xun Yi will do upon hearing the rumors and today’s events?”

Yuan Qingming bowed deeply, expression steady. “This… subject doesn’t know.”

“You’re not clueless—you just won’t say.” The Emperor felt a twinge of regret but approved. If his Imperial Guards Commander meddled elsewhere, it’d unsettle him.

Yuan Qingming’s reticence wasn’t stupidity but far-sightedness. In the succession struggle, no matter the effort, only one side won. Aligning with any brought terror and scheming. Better as is: amid the convergence of wind and clouds, staying uninvolved. Whichever prince ascended, his role remained the same.

No finer, loyal minister than this—pity he was inflexible.

A wise emperor like Xun Ziqian trusted Yuan Qingming’s steadfastness deeply, unlike those with scheming hearts. Yet this purity was rare. He coughed lightly into his sleeve, had a blank Imperial Edict brought, penned a few words himself, and handed it over once dry.

“Go to the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion on Our behalf and proclaim the edict! Ease Xun Yi’s heart, lest We rest uneasy on both sides.”

…

Back at the mansion, though everyone was shocked and fearful, seeing the young County Princess hale and hearty eased their worries.

Winter stripped the courtyard of green grass, lending it a bleak, uninviting chill at first glance.

After bathing away the blood, Xun Changqing changed into clean clothes and opened the window. The west room’s door remained shut, Xian Yu guarding outside. After such a major incident, Wei Lingci hadn’t come to comfort her—not even shown her face. Too strange.

Xian Yu said her master hadn’t woken, but it was already noon. She always rose early; such a late start was unprecedented.

At noon, after a light meal, she headed to the west room.

On the steps, the smiling Xian Yu blocked her, chuckling cleverly. “County Princess, Miss hasn’t risen yet. Why not nap? She’ll come find you when she wakes.”