Those twenty-plus assassins were all dressed as ordinary common people. With today’s dense crowds and chaotic scene, the assassins blending in among the masses wouldn’t draw anyone’s attention. Furthermore, knowing that the Emperor’s outing today would surely involve heavy military protection, no one could have imagined that someone would still choose such a time to attempt assassination.

The assassins wielded steel knives and clubs, charging out from the crowd straight toward the Emperor and Empress.

The imperial guards and officers from the Five Cities Military Commission immediately engaged them, becoming entangled in combat with the assassins.

The common people had never witnessed such a scene and were already frightened into continuous retreat, afraid of being caught up in it.

However, there were truly too many people. In their panicked flight, the people pushed and shoved each other. Some fell to the ground and were repeatedly trampled by those frantically fleeing for their lives. Before the assassins could even kill the Emperor, innocent civilians were already in mortal danger amidst the chaos.

The Old Mistress here was already frightened into screaming, “My Meng Ge’er! Heavens! Quickly go save him, quickly go save him!”

Qin Huaiyuan was extremely close to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince. Though they were under focused protection, the assassins’ swords were constantly aimed at these core figures.

Qin Yining was already terrified pale, her heartbeat nearly stopping.

The foolish Emperor and demon Empress deserved to die, but what wrong had Father done!

Qin Yining only hated that she wasn’t born male and hadn’t practiced advanced martial arts. Her bit of brute strength was utterly worthless here—she could only watch helplessly as Father was placed in danger!

The women were screaming in terror, and the street was in complete chaos. Adults yelled, children cried, and the sharp shouts and battle cries pierced one’s eardrums painfully.

Qin Yining didn’t scream like her cousin sisters beside her, but instead gripped the window frame and stared intently at the situation on the street. At this point, individual assassins had already broken through the guards’ encirclement and rushed directly toward the Emperor and Empress. Qin Yining discovered that these people’s target was the foolish Emperor and demon Empress, not Qin Huaiyuan!

Seeing this situation, Qin Yining felt slightly more at ease.

If the demon Empress and foolish Emperor died, perhaps the country could still recover its prosperity.

She was only afraid that swords had no eyes and might harm Qin Huaiyuan.

Just as she thought this, she suddenly heard another wave of successive screams from the direction of the city gate.

Following the sound, Qin Yining actually saw more than ten burly men wearing Great Zhou military uniforms brandishing steel knives as they charged into the crowd, slashing left and right, not even sparing ordinary civilians. They charged straight toward Qin Huaiyuan’s direction while shouting loudly, “Capture Qin Meng!”

Upon seeing this scene, the Old Mistress immediately rolled her eyes back and fainted.

Qin Yining gripped the window frame tightly with both hands, not even noticing when her nails broke and bled.

Looking at these people’s methods, Qin Yining was reminded of those who had attempted assassination at the Immortal Maiden Temple!

They had the same large builds and equally ruthless techniques. Though Qin Yining didn’t know martial arts, comparing the earlier masked men dressed as civilians with these later people wearing Great Zhou military uniforms, judging by their techniques, they were clearly two different groups!

Qin Yining couldn’t understand why Qin Huaiyuan, someone who had served the country meritoriously and always had an excellent reputation, would be assassinated after the successful peace negotiations!

The foolish Emperor and demon Empress deserved to die long ago, but her father shouldn’t die!

Unless these people weren’t from Great Yan!

Qin Yining had a flash of inspiration, and her expression became even more grave.

The street was in complete chaos.

The watching civilians and officials following behind had either fled without a trace if they could escape, or were hiding in roadside shops if they could take cover.

The two waves of assassins converged toward the center with seemingly unstoppable momentum!

Qin Yining watched as the imperial guards and Five Cities Military Commission officers seemed somewhat overwhelmed, cold sweat flowing down her forehead. If Father was truly in danger, she would rather lose her life than not rush down to save him!

At this critical moment, suddenly ten people wearing black brocade robes, silver masks, and wielding swords came flying over rooftops from within the city.

Seeing these people, Qin Yining felt a chill in her heart.

Were these people also assassins?

Her father’s life might not be saved!

Just as Qin Yining was at her wit’s end, these people actually split into two groups and charged into the assassins, like two black daggers. They actually suppressed both groups of assassins and quickly gained overwhelming advantage!

These silver-masked people were obviously well-trained with superior martial arts, and among these ten people, there was even one with a petite, slender female figure!

As Qin Yining watched in amazement, the two groups of assassins had already been routed by these ten newcomers along with the imperial guards, killed and wounded with many captured alive.

Finally successfully controlling the situation, Qin Yining breathed a long sigh of relief.

The Emperor and Empress, who had been frightened into hiding among the crowd, finally felt reassured.

The ten black-robed, silver-masked people quickly approached the Emperor and performed grand salutes. The leader, a masked woman, called out loudly, “This subordinate was late in rescuing Your Majesty, please forgive us!”

The Emperor, still shaken, patted his chest and waved his hand, “All of you rise. Fortunately We are unharmed. If you dare be late again next time, We will not forgive lightly.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy in not executing us!” the woman replied loudly, kowtowing.

The other nine people behind her also kowtowed.

The Emperor coughed once, finally steadying his mind, and said, “Take these assassins to the Ministry of Justice prison and investigate thoroughly for Us! We want to see exactly who wishes Us dead!”

Just as the Emperor finished speaking, they heard “thud” sounds. Looking back, those men wearing Great Zhou military uniforms all collapsed to the ground, purple-black blood seeping from the corners of their mouths. Just like at the Immortal Maiden Temple, they had bitten poison capsules and committed suicide.

Qin Yining watched with furrowed brows.

She could now confirm that these people definitely weren’t from Great Zhou.

The two countries had just reached peace negotiations—how could Great Zhou be foolish enough to order the assassination of Qin Huaiyuan to sabotage the talks? The gold, silver, and cities that Great Yan had promised hadn’t even been delivered yet!

Qin Yining felt that for the moment, she couldn’t think of who would order death warriors to provoke discord.

The Emperor roared in fury, “Useless fools, all useless fools! With so many of you, how could you not stop these few from committing suicide! We haven’t even investigated the truth yet and they’re dead—what use are you!”

Those assassins dressed as civilians took inspiration and also tried to follow suit, planning to bite their tongues.

However, having learned from the previous group’s actions, the guards hastily dislocated the assassins’ jaws. A few quick-tongued ones only managed to bite their tongues slightly, not enough to cause death.

Seeing that so many people remained for investigation, the Emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Set out to return to the palace! Leave this place to the Five Cities Military Commission and Ministry of Justice to investigate. Within three days, We want to see results!”

“Yes!” Minister Xu of the Five Cities Military Commission responded with a bitter expression.

Qin Yining frowned as she watched in Qin Huaiyuan’s direction.

Fortunately, they had weathered the crisis and Father wasn’t injured.

The Old Mistress beside her had been revived by pressing acupoints and pinching pressure points. After confirming that Qin Huaiyuan was safe, she also breathed a long sigh of relief.

Qin Yining watched as Qin Huaiyuan was about to board his carriage, when she suddenly remembered Sun Shi who was still in the palace.

She quickly brought Bingtang and the others downstairs.

Just as she reached the front of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, her gaze met directly with Qin Huaiyuan who was boarding his carriage.

Seeing that Qin Yining was actually here, Qin Huaiyuan slightly furrowed his brows. After thinking for a moment, he called over a young eunuch who was accompanying him and whispered a few words.

The eunuch nodded repeatedly, turned around, and walked toward Qin Yining.

PS: Here’s an extra update to make up for the schedule adjustment, sending love to everyone!