Shangguan Yin and Ye Jingyi fought fiercely, though Ye Jingyi possessed high martial arts skills, he was still outmatched by Shangguan Yin and soon found himself at a disadvantage.
With a surge of true qi from Shangguan Yin, a palm strike was delivered head-on. Following closely, swift as lightning, Shangguan Yin reached out and tore off Ye Jingyi's mask.
Under the faint firelight, the man appeared hideous and terrifying. He was nothing like the handsome young gentleman from before. His eyes bulged, his mouth was split into a harelip, and his face was a mess of sunken and protruding flesh, all the tissue seemingly squeezed towards the center.
This face, like that of a thunder god, was unsightly beyond compare, arguably the ugliest visage in the world.
Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao were stunned, as were the others in the room. The remaining two black-clothed figures seemed equally astonished at their leader’s disfigurement, momentarily losing focus. They were then killed by one sword thrust each from Zhui Feng and Zhui Yue.
As for the incredibly ugly man, already suffering from a serious chest injury that made breathing difficult, he now saw everyone frozen in shock at his appearance. With a shift of his body, he leaped out, vanishing into the dark night. Several swift movements and he was gone.
Shangguan Yin, Zhui Feng, and Zhui Yue rushed to the door. The moonlit night was clear and cold, the branches of flowers hidden amidst shimmering light and specks. There was no sign of anyone. The sounds of fighting outside had long ceased. All the black-clothed assassins who had attempted the assassination had been killed.
The only one to escape tonight was the man whose ugliness was bone-chilling. Who was he?
Outside the door, Liu Xing, Jing Yun, Zi Jun, Zi Yang, and Wei Chi Jun, among others, rushed in. The room was filled with people. Shangguan Yin quickly went to Yun Xiao, examining her from head to toe, and anxiously asked, "How are you? Are you alright?"
Yun Xiao shook her head, her delicate face creased with a slight frown, her eyes flashing with disbelief. "How could he have become like that?"
"Who? Could he really be Ye Jingyi?" Shangguan Yin was equally incredulous. Zhui Feng and Zhui Yue, who had witnessed the ugly man’s true face, were both in disbelief.
That person was too terrifying, so ugly, with all the flesh on his face seemingly squeezed to the center, like the face of a thunder god. How could such a person be Ye Jingyi? How could he have become like that?
"It was him. He might have practiced some martial art that distorted his features. This is precisely why he is determined to take revenge."
Yun Xiao spoke with deep emotion. Ye Jingyi had escaped tonight, and she feared he would return to deal with them, for not only had his appearance changed, but his heart was likely also twisted.
"Alright, everyone, you may go. There is nothing else to be done now. Except for those on duty, everyone else should return to rest. We will return to the capital early tomorrow morning."
Ye Jingyi was injured, and at least for a short while, he would not be able to appear here. Therefore, they had nothing more to fear.
The crowd received their orders and withdrew, taking the corpses from the room and cleaning the bloodstains on the floor before retreating.
Yun Xiao, smelling the nauseating smell of blood in the air, felt uncomfortable and walked to the window, opening it to let in the night breeze.
Everyone filed out, with guards posted around the perimeter while others went to rest.
Shangguan Yin stayed in the room with Yun Xiao. Thinking that she hadn't eaten much, he asked with concern, "Xiao'er, shall I have some more food prepared?"
Yun Xiao shook her head. She truly had no appetite. Shangguan Yin then sat with her as they rested, the night passing without incident.
Only the next morning, after washing up and having breakfast, did Yun Xiao, leading a thousand elite soldiers and several of her subordinates, leave Guangning City.
The Prefect Yuan Xiu, along with his subordinates like the Prefect’s Assistant, and a group from the Chamber of Commerce, grandly escorted them to the city gates. They watched as Yun Xiao boarded her carriage and led her people away from Guangning City.
The sound of horses' hooves rose, kicking up dust. Those behind them all showed admiration, their discussions incessant.
"Her Majesty the Empress is truly a unique woman in the world."
"Who says otherwise? She is truly a rarity, seldom seen in a century."
The discussions were drowned out by the flying sand and dust, lost in the ephemeral world.
Three days later, they returned to Yan Jing City. A total of ten days had passed. Everything in the capital was well.
Upon returning to the palace, Yun Xiao immediately gave instructions for the imperial kitchen to prepare some of her favorite dishes. She was truly starving. Wan Wan and Qiao Er, seeing their mistress devour the food as if she hadn't eaten in days, asked with concern.
"Your Highness, haven't you eaten?"
Yun Xiao continued to eat, nodding vigorously. Finally, she reached out, disregarding her image, and tore off a crispy, golden chicken drumstick to gnaw on. Wan Wan quickly brought water to her lips, urging her repeatedly.
"Be careful, be careful, why are you so starved?"
After eating and drinking her fill, Yun Xiao let out a satisfied burp before she had the time to attend to Wan Wan.
"You don't know, on this trip to Guangning City, Ye Jingyi, that scoundrel, was indeed hiding behind the scenes. He actually poisoned me. Although I discovered it, I didn't dare to eat anything casually. Even if I were poisoned, I would be fine, but the child would definitely be affected. So, I ate as little as possible, and only ate after rushing back. I feel safe eating in the palace."
Yun Xiao said contentedly, patting her belly. Wan Wan and Qiao Er’s eyes welled up with tears, and they said with heartache.
"Your Highness, please don't concern yourself with these matters in the future. They are all the Emperor's affairs, and the Emperor will handle them properly. It breaks our hearts to see you like this."
As Wan Wan finished speaking, Yun Xiao was about to retort when a voice sounded from outside the hall entrance: "What you said is right, I agree. From now on, all matters will be handled by me. You must take good care of your health."
"I know."
Yun Xiao said with a smile. When there were no issues, she was always the most agreeable person.
As for whether she could be so obedient and well-behaved when there were problems, that was another matter entirely. Everyone present knew this well, and therefore sighed heavily, unable to say a word. This was truly being speechless.
In the days that followed, Yun Xiao indeed had a much more stable life. As the court of Dong Qin gradually became regularized and there were no major events to worry about, she calmly ate and took care of her health, preparing to welcome her baby.
Every evening, the most frequent activity she and the Emperor engaged in was communicating with their unborn child. Whenever they spoke, the baby would kick and move in her belly, as if cooperating.
At such times, Yun Xiao’s smile was so wide it seemed her mouth couldn't close. She looked at Shangguan Yin with pride.
"This must be an obedient child. If it's a boy, what should we name him?"
Shangguan Yin looked at her pretty face filled with the pride of impending motherhood and reached out to stroke her hair tenderly. "Xiao'er, you should choose the name."
"If it's a boy, we'll name him Yu Fan. If it's a girl, Xue Fan."
"Why use the character 'Fan'?" Shangguan Yin’s eyes held a peculiar glimmer. Yun Xiao looked up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness, and slowly said, "I hope Yu Fan will be an ordinary person, with the happiness and joys of ordinary people. I don't want them to carry heavy burdens in their lives."
Yun Xiao finished speaking, lowered her head, and her fingertips transmitted warmth to her belly. Yu Fan, Mother doesn't want you to become a prince or a princess and live too arduously. Mother only hopes you will be an ordinary person, possessing ordinary people's happiness.
Upon hearing her words, Shangguan Yin's heart stirred, and he reached out to hold her tightly. He knew that deep down, Xiao'er didn't truly like the palace. She preferred a commoner's life.
Xiao'er, give me a few years. When Dong Qin truly has no worries, I will take you and our child away from here.