Drunken rambling? Shen Guiyan instinctively turned back to glance at Yuwen Changqing. That wasn’t right—General Yuwen was injured, shouldn’t he not be drinking?
Seeing Princess Duanwen had no intention of saying more, Shen Guiyan didn’t ask further. Walking to the front of the dragon carriage, Gu Chaobei was holding Consort Zhuang’s hand and saying quietly, “I’ve wronged you.”
Consort Zhuang smiled, very magnanimously saying, “Since Noble Lady Yan carries the dragon heir, this concubine should naturally be considerate.”
These were surface words, for others to see. Shen Guiyan knew this. This way, it became her using her pregnancy to compete for favor, while the Emperor was passive.
Occasionally taking the blame was necessary. Shen Guiyan stood to the side and paid respects. After Consort Zhuang left, she boarded the carriage with Gu Chaobei.
“Why the sudden desire to ride with me?” Gu Chaobei laughed lightly, reaching out to squeeze Shen Guiyan’s hand. “Could it be you missed me?”
Shen Guiyan coughed lightly and sat down on the Emperor’s left side, leaning against the window as Xu Mengdie had instructed, then said, “Once we return to the palace, we certainly won’t be able to see each other for a long while. This concubine wants to accompany Your Majesty a bit longer. After we return to the imperial palace, this concubine will switch back with Consort Zhuang.”
Gu Chaobei clicked his tongue lightly, shamelessly wrapping his arm around her waist. “Don’t you miss me even a little?”
Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together, turned her head away, and fell silent. Gu Chaobei’s face fell. Though he didn’t expect to hear anything explicit from her mouth, at least she could…
“I miss you.” The person beside him said quietly.
Gu Chaobei’s eyes widened. He stared at her blankly for quite a while. After processing what Shen Guiyan had said, Gu Chaobei’s mouth stretched into a grin that reached his ears.
And this exaggerated smile lasted the entire journey.
Shen Guiyan’s original plan was to discuss some things with Gu Chaobei, such as what Xu Mengdie had asked her to mention about Gu Chaonan becoming Commander of the Southern Camp. But unexpectedly, Gu Chaobei talked so much she couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
“Being Emperor isn’t as fun as I thought. Also, there’s not a single person in the palace prettier than you.”
“A while ago they said some place or other had sent tribute beauties with blue eyes. I can take you to see them sometime.”
“The harem is really noisy. Consort Shen wants to drag me to her palace every day—it’s impossible to guard against. Fortunately Consort Zhuang is there.”
He blabbed on the entire way. Shen Guiyan took out a water pouch and handed it to him. “Are you thirsty?”
Gu Chaobei took it and gulped down a large mouthful, his eyes full of starlight. “I’ve said pretty much everything I should say. You should know what I do every day now, right? So what about you?”
Shen Guiyan thought for a moment. “Embroider, daydream, eat, sleep.”
Life in the harem was just this boring. Hearing this, Gu Chaobei glanced at her and asked carefully, “Do you prefer your previous life?”
She had once said she didn’t seek wealth and honor, only peace and happiness. And now, he’d become the most wealthy and honored person, gradually drifting further and further from her.
Shen Guiyan thought for a moment but didn’t answer this question. Instead she said, “Wherever Your Majesty is, this concubine will be there too.”
The dragon carriage bumped slightly. Neither paid much attention. Gu Chaobei reached out to touch Shen Guiyan’s belly. “After you give birth, whether it’s a boy or girl, I’ll love them dearly.”
“Good.” Shen Guiyan smiled and placed her hand on the back of his. “This concubine will also do everything possible to protect it.”
Their eyes met. Gu Chaobei actually felt a bit shy and looked away. Cursing himself silently—they already had a child, what was there to be shy about?
The atmosphere was just right, and the convoy had reached the outskirts of the capital. Shen Guiyan’s stomach suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. Seeing Gu Chaobei’s happy expression, she felt too embarrassed to mention it and just covered her belly, enduring it.
The dragon carriage’s wheel made a “crack” sound, as if it had fallen into some stone pit. The carriage body shook, nearly throwing Shen Guiyan out.
“Careful.” Gu Chaobei frowned and quickly tried to pull Shen Guiyan back.
Everyone outside immediately tensed up. The over twenty guards around the dragon carriage all sensed something was wrong and drew their swords in unison.
A bird cry sounded from the woods. Immediately after, before anyone could react, countless short arrows came shooting through the air from the left side, instantly turning the carriage into a honeycomb.
“Imperial Brother!” Princess Duanwen got out of her carriage. Seeing this scene, she shouted loudly, drew her sword, and was about to rush forward.
“The Princess needn’t worry too much. Stay with this subject and guard the outside.” Yuwen Changqing followed beside her, saying quietly, “The dragon carriage isn’t like ordinary carriages. The surrounding walls are made of solid ironwood. Ordinary arrows can’t pierce through.”
Princess Duanwen was startled and slapped her forehead. Right, how had she forgotten? Even if it was shot full of holes, the people inside wouldn’t be harmed.
“Yan’er!” Just as she’d breathed a sigh of relief, she heard an angry roar from inside the dragon carriage.
Gu Chaobei looked at the short arrow embedded in Shen Guiyan’s shoulder, his eyes instantly turning red.
The dragon carriage was sturdy and wouldn’t be breached. But there were windows on both sides! What could the curtains block? The short arrows shot straight in. And Shen Guiyan happened to be on the left, blocking the window. The arrow had pierced directly into her left shoulder.
Shen Guiyan breathed deeply, not daring to assess whether her shoulder hurt. Seeing her like this, Gu Chaobei’s eyes turned red. He grabbed the long sword from the carriage and got out.
Assassins from who knows where, well-trained, over twenty in total, were currently locked in combat with the guards by the dragon carriage. Three or four guards had fallen, but not a single assassin was down.
Gu Chaobei drew his sword and charged in.
“Your Majesty!” Yuwen Changqing cursed inwardly. So many people were rushing to protect him, yet this ancestor, upon coming down, charged straight into the pile of assassins?
Princess Duanwen followed without a word to protect the Emperor. Gu Chaonan from behind was also pushed forward by Xu Mengdie and joined the melee.
Originally, Yuwen Changqing had been holding back, just slashing the assassins’ legs or knocking them unconscious to leave them for later interrogation. Daring to intercept and assassinate the imperial procession—it definitely needed to be thoroughly investigated.
But when he turned his head, he nearly fainted from anger. Gu Chaobei was in the crowd cutting people down like cabbages, every sword strike to the throat, not leaving a single survivor. While he knocked one unconscious here, that ancestor would come over with a sword through the heart.
Great finishing moves, but who was going to tell him—with all the assassins dead and gone, where were they supposed to trace who had ordered this?
Gu Chaobei’s eyes had turned red with rage, his hands and body covered in blood. Only after turning around and finding no living black-clothed men did he throw down his sword and return to the carriage.
Shen Guiyan was sitting there perfectly fine, holding the short arrow in her hand. Never mind blood on her shoulder—there wasn’t even a wound visible.
“Your Majesty.” Her face somewhat pale, Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “There’s so much blood on you.”
She was fine? She was actually fine? Gu Chaobei couldn’t believe it. He went over to examine her shoulder, and when he touched it, it was hard.
“This concubine wore the Princess’s armor underneath.” Shen Guiyan said softly, “Your Majesty needn’t worry.”
Letting out a breath, Gu Chaobei knelt on one knee in the carriage, his hands trembling slightly. Just now he’d thought she was truly injured…
It was also his fault for bringing her to ride in the carriage with him.
“Your Majesty?” Shen Guiyan looked at him with some concern.
“I’m fine.” Gu Chaobei steadied his breathing, gripped her arm and squeezed it hard, then turned and got out of the carriage again.
“Transport all these corpses back to the imperial palace. Have Mother Empress come investigate thoroughly with me to see who has such audacity to intercept the Son of Heaven’s procession near the capital!”
“Yes.” Yuwen Changqing acknowledged and went to arrange carts for transporting the bodies. Over twenty corpses—truly not a single survivor left.
Princess Duanwen frowned. “Imperial Brother was too impulsive.”
Probably because Noble Lady Yan was injured, Imperial Brother became so agitated. Though it was understandable.
Yuwen Changqing replied without looking up, “Indeed somewhat impulsive.”
Princess Duanwen thought he meant the same thing she did, so she didn’t ask further. She ordered people to go clear the arrows from the dragon carriage, then rode her horse to escort the procession as it continued forward.
After the dragon carriage traveled for a while, Gu Chaobei hadn’t spoken. Shen Guiyan also felt her stomach was alright now, so she asked quietly, “Does Your Majesty have any leads in mind? Who would want to assassinate you?”
Gu Chaobei lowered his eyes. “Naturally someone who doesn’t want me to live well.”
Wasn’t that stating the obvious? But who would benefit from killing the Emperor? Empress Dowager Wen probably wouldn’t—this was the only emperor they had. Then who else? Remnants of the Crown Prince’s faction?
Not everyone in the court supported Gu Chaobei’s ascension. A small portion of the Crown Prince’s faction had even resigned and gone into hiding. Among them, there were inevitably some who would seek revenge.
“Who it is doesn’t matter.” Gu Chaobei’s expression softened as he placed a light kiss on her forehead. “Just now, when you knew something was wrong, why did you still block the window?”
Shen Guiyan smiled. “This concubine had armor.”
Though just now she’d completely forgotten she was wearing armor and had momentarily thought she was going to die. Thinking about it now, Xu Mengdie truly was a divine person. How had she known to have her save the Emperor just at this moment?
Gu Chaobei pressed his lips together. “When we return, I’ll reward you for your merit. I can use this opportunity to elevate your rank.”
Shen Guiyan laughed lightly. “What does Your Majesty think harem ranks are? Rising too quickly will invite jealousy and resentment.”
“No matter.” Gu Chaobei looked elsewhere with a smile. “After we return and investigate today’s assassination thoroughly, being quick won’t matter.”
Speaking in riddles. Shen Guiyan frowned. Upon returning to the imperial palace, she got out of the carriage first. Baoshan was already at the palace gate to greet her. His Majesty, along with Consort Zhuang, Princess Duanwen, and others, had to first go to Empress Dowager Wen’s palace to report the assassination.
Her stomach stabbed with pain again. Shen Guiyan drew in a sharp breath and grabbed Baoshan’s hand.
“Mistress, what’s wrong?” Baoshan was startled and quickly helped her back to Xiuzhuang Palace.
“I probably moved around too much. My stomach feels uncomfortable.” Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “It’s nothing. I’ll be fine after drinking a dose of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine when we get back.”
“Then this servant will go fetch the imperial physician.” Baoshan handed her to the junior palace maid behind them and lifted her skirts to run toward the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Shen Guiyan walked slowly along the palace path. Just as she was feeling a bit better, she saw a group of Imperial Guards escorting Jiang Shi past on a side path.
“This concubine is innocent! Innocent!” Jiang Shi’s hair was disheveled, her face bore handprints, and her eyes were already swollen from crying. Spotting Shen Guiyan at a glance, she immediately tried to rush over. “Noble Lady Yan, save this concubine! Save me!”
Shen Guiyan frowned. What was happening?