Chapter 5: Assassination Attempt

Inside Prince Yu’s tent, he listened as the leader of his personal guards assured him that the plan was foolproof. Only then did the grim expression on Prince Yu’s face soften somewhat.

Once the man had left, Prince Yu ordered his trusted aide to pour him a drink. Smugly, he boasted about his flawless scheme.

It had come to him the moment Shi Yuning turned down his invitation to join him, choosing instead to go hunting with the Crown Princess.

His men would disguise themselves as assassins and target the Crown Princess. Whether or not they managed to kill Xie Zhaoran didn’t matter—what counted was that he would swoop in at the perfect moment to rescue Shi Yuning.

Then he would carry her back to the hunting grounds in full view of everyone. Not only would he have saved her life, but they would have shared an intimate moment as well.

After that, what reason could the Shi Family possibly have to refuse the marriage?

And if he could conveniently take out Xie Zhaoran in the process, it would be a double blessing.

Prince Yu downed a cup with relish and called for his aide to fetch him a set of dazzling clothes. He wanted to appear before Shi Yuning like a god descending from the heavens.

He would make her see just how heroic and extraordinary the man who saved her could be.

Cangxia Mountain bordered the hunting grounds. Those who disliked the crowded enclosure could hunt in the mountains instead, though it demanded greater skill in archery and horsemanship.

Most noble ladies from the capital lacked such skills, so they stuck to the hunting grounds, with their admirers trailing close by.

By contrast, Cangxia Mountain felt serene and secluded.

Xie Zhaoran had cited the risk of startling the game with too many people, so she ordered her attendants to wait at the base of the mountain. Only she and Shi Yuning rode up.

Shi Yuning’s eyes were now entirely on A-Li. She watched in delight as it navigated the mountain path with steady grace, lightly leaping over gullies and rocky patches.

It truly lived up to its reputation as a prize steed.

“Miss Shi seems to have some skill on horseback. Who was your teacher?” Xie Zhaoran’s mount lagged half a body length behind Shi Yuning’s, on her right side. She had meant to keep watch, but she quickly realized Shi Yuning handled herself well enough without protection.

She had never heard of the Shi Family hiring a martial arts instructor for Shi Yuning.

Shi Yuning caught Xie Zhaoran’s question and let out a “pfft” of laughter. She reined in A-Li to slow its pace, allowing Xie Zhaoran to draw alongside.

The path widened here, and as Xie Zhaoran pulled up, Shi Yuning began sharing her past.

“It all started when I was little,” Shi Yuning said with a smile, recounting her childhood.

Back then, her father had opened a private school in their village. Life was comfortable enough, but few families could afford schooling.

It wasn’t that her father charged high fees; it was the cost of brushes, ink, paper, and books. He had only a handful of students, and the family never went hungry thanks to aid from her mother’s side.

Her father grew tired of relying on handouts. During busy farming seasons, when the village children helped at home, he would head to the teahouses in the county seat to tell stories.

He always brought Shi Yuning along.

As a child, she devoured tales of wandering heroes roaming the jianghu, robbing the rich to aid the poor and toppling tyrants to protect the weak. She dreamed of becoming a great hero herself, leaving her mark on the martial world.

Eventually, the family saved enough, and her mother pulled every string she had until a wealthy county gentleman agreed to take Shi Yuning on as a student alongside his own daughter.

The tutor they hired taught not just reading and writing, but also embroidery, sewing, and the virtues of wifehood and motherhood. Her mother believed that mastering these would secure Shi Yuning a good match.

Shi Yuning balked at the idea, but she couldn’t sway her mother.

Her father noticed her reluctance and asked what she truly wanted to learn.

“I want to study martial arts,” she declared, “so I can protect you and Mother someday.”

Whether it was her words that moved him or not, her father orchestrated a sneaky switcheroo. He pretended to send her to lessons each day, but they went to a martial hall instead.

To keep it from her mother, Shi Yuning studied her books with her father at home, fooling her just enough.

They pulled the wool over her eyes for five whole years before she caught on.

Xie Zhaoran found the story utterly captivating. She never would have imagined that young Shi Yuning had known her own mind so clearly—what she wanted and what she didn’t.

And for her father to support such defiance of convention in the eyes of the world!

“What happened next? Did she find out?” Xie Zhaoran asked, brimming with curiosity.

Shi Yuning pouted, putting on a pitiful expression as she held up two fingers, spaced about three finger-widths apart.

“This thick a switch, and Mother whipped me over twenty times.”

Xie Zhaoran watched her vivid mimicry, as if she were being thrashed right then: “That sounds rough.”

Shi Yuning winked playfully: “It wasn’t so bad. Father had it worse—he got over fifty lashes and ended up crying.”

Xie Zhaoran’s eyes widened in surprise.

Shi Yuning realized she’d shared her father’s embarrassing moment and quickly changed the subject.

“The Crown Prince called me here to protect the Crown Princess, and he picked the right person. My skills aren’t polished, but they’re better than those of the capital’s sheltered ladies. If danger strikes, Your Highness, rest easy—I’ll keep you safe.”

Xie Zhaoran smiled faintly and nodded, her tone earnest: “Good. I might need your protection right now, actually.”

Shi Yuning arched a brow and tilted her head, puzzled by the remark.

Deep in the dense woods, atop a sturdy, leafy tree, a masked man in black whispered to his companion: “Trouble—we’ve been spotted.”

The other nodded anxiously: “We’re exposed. Down there, those two—which one’s Miss Shi? They’re both in whites and pinks; I can’t tell them apart.”

“Idiot, if the clothes don’t give it away, look at the mounts. Haven’t you seen or heard of that prize horse? That’s the Crown Princess’s ride—the other must be Miss Shi.”

Their voices startled birds into flight from the trees. Shi Yuning scanned warily around her. From Xie Zhaoran’s words, it seemed danger had found them already.

But she saw no sign of it. As she opened her mouth to ask, a rustling erupted—leaves scattering wildly. With the sound came a band of masked black-clad assassins!

Shi Yuning: Am I some kind of jinx? Where did these guys even hide?

Xie Zhaoran stayed far calmer, asking casually as if chatting over tea: “Who sent you?”

The attackers wasted no time on introductions or honor, charging straight at them with swords raised.

“Look out!” Shi Yuning spurred her horse forward and dispatched the assassin lunging at her.

She tried to position herself to shield Xie Zhaoran, only to notice that just one or two foes targeted her while most swarmed Shi Yuning.

In the heat of battle, Shi Yuning spotted something odd: the pair after Xie Zhaoran used the flat of their blades, merely sparring.

Not so with her—their edges gleamed wickedly, strikes aimed at her vitals with lethal intent.

These assassins were after her. Shi Yuning almost laughed in disbelief. What had she done to warrant this? She had no enemies. It must be the Shi Family they wanted.

But if the Shi Family had enemies, why drag her into it? She hated collateral damage like this.

She fended off one attacker and shouted to Xie Zhaoran, not far away: “You go first!” She wouldn’t let innocents get caught in the crossfire.

The assassins seemed to approve, pressuring Xie Zhaoran to retreat and herding her down a side path.

Xie Zhaoran watched gravely, noting Shi Yuning could still hold her own. She glanced at A-Li and breathed a little easier.

After a moment’s thought, she followed the assassins’ lead, withdrawing down the fork.

As she entered the narrow path, the attackers visibly relaxed.

Xie Zhaoran sneered. Now she understood. She’d half-thought they were truly after Shi Yuning, but no—these fools had mistaken their target.

Her gaze turned icy, a storm brewing in her eyes that could swallow men whole.

Xie Zhaoran unslung her Cloud Breaking Bow, nocked three Red Feather Arrows, and loosed them with unstoppable force.

With dull thuds, one arrow pierced each throat. The assassins crumpled before they could clutch their wounds.

Her movements fluid, Xie Zhaoran emptied her quiver in a blink. The foes toppled like harvested wheat.

Shi Yuning had seen Xie Zhaoran’s archery prowess before, but clearing so many so swiftly still left her gaping in awe.

From the heart, she praised: “You’re incredible.”

Xie Zhaoran’s taut expression eased, her face neutral but her ear tips flushing pink.

She mumbled a vague “Mm” and hurriedly looked down, fishing a Signal Flare from her deer-leather boot. She lit it and launched it skyward.

As the flare burst into shimmering light overhead, Xie Zhaoran finally turned to Shi Yuning, who stared at her raptly.

Her eyes outshone the flare. Meeting that gaze, Shi Yuning gushed again: “That was amazing—one shot each. So satisfying!”

Xie Zhaoran’s hand tightened on the reins, fingers curling unconsciously. She fell silent for a beat, then spoke with a hint of hesitation: “Want to learn?”

Shi Yuning’s eyes went wide with disbelief, sparkling brighter and brighter.

“You’re going to teach me?”

Xie Zhaoran nodded: “If you want—”

“I do! I really do!”

Before she could finish, Shi Yuning shot up her hand: “More than anything!”

Xie Zhaoran laughed freely, delighted: “Alright, you said it.”

Shi Yuning nodded eagerly. She wouldn’t pass up a chance like this: “When do we start?”

Xie Zhaoran met her adoring gaze—pure worship—and pondered briefly, a slight frown creasing her brow.

Before she could reply, footsteps rustled from the woods. Qiangdi soon appeared, guards in tow.

“That one’s still alive. Patch him up and interrogate,” Xie Zhaoran said, pointing casually at one who seemed done for.

Qiangdi nodded and ordered her men to handle it.

She eyed Xie Zhaoran with concern: “My lady, are you hurt?”

Xie Zhaoran suddenly pinpointed the odd twinge in her chest. Shi Yuning hadn’t asked once since the fight began.

The way she looked at Xie Zhaoran made her seem invincible, a goddess untouched by peril.

Xie Zhaoran shifted in her saddle, pausing her arrow hand. Without thinking, she sliced her pant leg from thigh to knee with her blade.

Before Shi Yuning drew near, she discreetly tossed aside the bloodied arrow.

As Shi Yuning approached, Xie Zhaoran reined her horse to half-turn, exposing her other side.

“You’re hurt!” Shi Yuning gasped at the bloody leg, her breath hitching. How had she missed it? And such a serious wound!

The pale skirt was soaked crimson, blood still oozing steadily down the leg, soon staining the entire pant leg red.

Xie Zhaoran watched Shi Yuning’s worried face, closed her eyes briefly, and nodded piteously.

“Yeah… it hurts bad. My leg really stings.”