Another half hour passed.

When Feng Jiu emerged, it was Qing Zhi who saw her out.

This palace maid’s manner toward her had been quite unfriendly the last time, but now she was thoroughly respectful, attentive to Feng Jiu in a way she was not even with Emperor Qiwen.

Then again, no one here paid Emperor Qiwen particular mind.

“Master, I gave great offense last time — that was Qing Zhi’s fault. I ask for Master’s generous forgiveness.”

After seeing Feng Jiu out through the door, Qing Zhi gave her a slight bow: “Qing Zhi offers her apologies to Master.”

“You were only loyal to the Lady — what fault is there in that?” Feng Jiu had been in this era for most of a year, and had picked up a fair amount of its customs and manners.

She clasped her hands together in a salute and smiled: “The Lady’s legs are in the process of recovering. A little time from now, once the recovery is sufficiently advanced, I will perform a procedure to reattach the tendons. In the meantime, I ask that Elder Sister Qing Zhi continue massaging them for her, in the manner I have taught.”

“Yes, I certainly will. Thank you, Master!” Qing Zhi replied immediately, and her posture of complete deference was clearly visible even to Emperor Qiwen, watching from a distance.

Qing Zhi had always been haughty and unruly. If even Qing Ye — or rather Qing Zhi — had been won over, it meant Feng Jiu’s treatments were truly taking effect.

Emperor Qiwen could not help but rise to his feet. He stared at that distant door, gripping his palms tight, so agitated he wanted to go over — and yet afraid of being turned away once more.

This was only Feng Jiu’s second visit, and already her legs were showing improvement? Feng Jiu’s medical skill was truly extraordinary!

“Your Majesty…” The Head Eunuch moved to stand behind him.

Emperor Qiwen waved a hand. The Head Eunuch said nothing, remaining at his back and watching just the same as the Emperor — watching as Feng Jiu took her leave of Qing Zhi and walked in their direction.

But Feng Jiu had barely taken a few steps when that door opened behind her once more. Qing Ye came hurrying out carrying something.

“Master, please wait.” Qing Ye walked quickly to Feng Jiu’s side, both hands extended forward, offering up a short blade.

“Master, this is the Moon-Cleaving Blade, presented as a gift from our Lady. Please accept it with our Lady’s compliments.”

Moon-Cleaving Blade… Feng Jiu had not heard the name before. But the scabbard looked quite plain — even somewhat worn, suggesting years of age. And yet at a glance, one could tell it was something extraordinary.

Why did she say it was extraordinary? Because the scabbard was far too ordinary.

Could anything the veiled lady chose to give away truly be ordinary? If the scabbard was plain, that could only mean the blade itself was beyond imagination.

“If I am being honest, I would have preferred the journal I was looking at just now.” Feng Jiu’s gaze passed over Qing Ye and settled on that closed door.

She knew that the veiled lady inside could surely hear every word.

Sure enough, from within came the veiled lady’s voice — lovely enough to put one at ease: “If Master wishes to read it, come back next time.”

A warmth rushed through Feng Jiu’s chest. She clasped her hands toward the doorway at once, her voice carrying a faint tremor, unable to conceal her excitement: “Then I thank the Lady most sincerely!”

She accepted the Moon-Cleaving Blade from Qing Ye with both hands and smiled: “For this as well — thank you, Elder Sister Qing Ye and the Lady. Many thanks!”

She hung it at her waist then and there, not the slightest bit reserved about it.

A warmth stirred in Qing Ye’s eyes, softening the gravity usually there. This young man was genuinely refreshingly unaffected.

Feng Jiu bid her farewell and walked toward the pavilion. She inclined slightly toward Emperor Qiwen inside: “Your Majesty, tonight’s treatment has concluded.”

She had expected Emperor Qiwen to remain behind, but he instead walked toward her without saying a word.

His gaze fell to her waist — to that short blade that looked entirely unremarkable.

Feng Jiu had not raised her head, yet she seemed to see clearly what he was looking at.

This man was probably a little jealous. The blade had, after all, been given by the Lady.

By the looks of it, he truly did care deeply for the Lady inside — deeply and helplessly. He was the ruler of a nation, and he cared for a woman he could not possess. This had long since gone beyond simple affection — this was undeniably true devotion. And reverence.

“Let us go.” Emperor Qiwen said nothing further in the end. He cast one last glance at that tightly closed door, then set off toward the courtyard gate.

He had not stayed tonight. It seemed he was truly pained.

Feng Jiu privately exhaled a breath of relief. Provoking the jealousy of an emperor — once she had cured the Lady, if this emperor turned petty, he might simply have her executed to vent his feelings.

Walking beside a sovereign was like walking beside a tiger. It seemed she would need to take some precautions before finishing the Lady’s treatment, to ensure her own life remained intact.

All along the way out, Feng Jiu followed at the rear of the procession, keeping a low profile and attracting no particular notice.

She only hoped to leave the palace quickly so she could examine the Moon-Cleaving Blade and see just how extraordinary it was.

After all, she was only a young girl of around ten or so — it was only natural to look forward to a fine object. The composure she had shown just now was nothing more than wanting the tactical journal inside. What a pity — the Lady had seen right through her desire and simply would not give it.

Honestly, quite stingy.

Suddenly, Feng Jiu’s brow furrowed slightly. She sensed something.

Before she could open her mouth to warn anyone, something surged up in the distant sky ahead — a dense, dark mass resembling a flock of birds in the clouds.

In that kind of darkness, it was impossible to make out clearly — yet Feng Jiu was already certain: those were not birds.

“Assassins!” Feng Jiu said in a low, firm voice from the rear of the procession.

Everyone had seen those things in the sky by now. The Head Eunuch, terrified, rushed to block Emperor Qiwen from behind, crying out in a sharp, urgent voice: “Assassins! Protect His Majesty! Assassins!”

That dense, teeming mass — they were truly people in the air. Each one dressed in garments made of some unknown material, arms spread wide like wings, gliding in from the rear mountains!

There were those who had been said to fly like this — but this was the first time Feng Jiu had ever witnessed it with her own eyes.

Wind uplift, combined with the extraordinary lightness skill of each of these individuals — launching from the summit of the rear mountains, they had truly managed to arrive here in one piece!

At a glance, there appeared to be at least several dozen — this assassination attempt had been meticulously planned!

The guards in the distance had heard the alarm and were rushing over, but what speed on foot could rival flight?

In the blink of an eye, those figures had already landed and engaged Emperor Qiwen’s personal guards in fierce combat.

Feng Jiu truly had no desire to involve herself in something like this. Truth be told, she held no particular affection for Emperor Qiwen, nor any sense of loyalty toward him.

Yet she was walking alongside Emperor Qiwen right now. If Emperor Qiwen fell, how would her own presence be explained?

The affair involving the Lady in Li Yuan could never be spoken of — and so if matters went wrong, she would most likely be taken as a conspirator in league with the assassins.

Of all the times to attempt an assassination — could they not have waited until she had left the palace first!

With a sharp ring of metal, she drew the Moon-Cleaving Blade she had just received from her waist. She pushed off with both feet, and her figure swept at an angle toward Emperor Qiwen.

Every last one of these black-clad figures was a master — but one among them was a master above masters.

His long sword swept and turned. With so many guards rushing him all at once, not one of them could slow his advance even slightly. In a few soaring leaps and landings, he had already arrived directly before Emperor Qiwen.

A sharp ring of metal — the gleaming long sword aimed straight for Emperor Qiwen’s heart.