Hua Wu You did not expect Feng Xie to be able to go this far. It was no wonder he could maintain his position as emperor; such ruthlessness was beyond even his own capabilities. Even he, the great demon, would frown in such a situation.
However, he did not even furrow his brow, let alone contemplate it. The corner of his lips curved into a cold smile, his bewitching face exuding bloodlust and determination. He lightly uttered a single word.
"Good."
Feng Xie's heart sank. Was he truly going to exchange Liu Liu's life for this demon's?
Why did he feel an ache that gnawed at his bones? But there was no time to ponder. His dark hair swirled, his handsome face was shrouded in a frosty hue, and malevolent energy emanated from him.
He was going to gamble, to bet that he could defeat the Empress and win the empire. His movements were swift and vicious, like a long, whipping chain.
Hua Wu You was startled. A flicker of hesitation crossed his mind. Could he truly harm this innocent woman in his hands?
It was this moment of hesitation that made him a step too slow. Holding Liu Liu, he moved with lightning speed. In the end, he could not bring himself to be cruel.
At the very last second, as Feng Xie's palm strike was about to hit him, he heard a sigh by his ear, and a faint voice spoke, "You may leave."
As the words fell, his form suddenly shifted. The woman in his arms was placed in front of him, taking the palm strike in his stead.
In that instant, he realized this woman had been hiding her strength. She knew martial arts.
If so, why hadn't she stabbed him earlier and escaped? Releasing his grip, he moved swiftly. As he made his final departure, he looked back seriously.
In the darkness of the night, he saw the slender, graceful shadow being blown away by the palm strike, spinning in the air like a vibrant epiphyllum blooming in the night, exquisitely beautiful. It was the woman he had been searching for.
In the darkness, only Hua Wu You's pained howl was heard as he fled.
Feng Xie's expression changed drastically. He couldn't understand how the palm strike, aimed at Hua Wu You, had landed on Liu Liu.
Her hairpins scattered in the palm's force, fluttering like a blooming epiphyllum, radiating the most dazzling light, and then she fell heavily. He could no longer care about anything else. His form flashed, and he swiftly caught her as she fell from the air.
He saw her spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, splattering onto his white silk robe. His heart tore with pain, and his voice lost its color.
"Quickly, return to the palace at once," he commanded anxiously, holding her weakly breathing form. At the last moment, thankfully, he had held back some of his internal power; otherwise, she would have surely died.
And at the very last moment, he had seen that she knew martial arts. Yes, his Empress knew martial arts. Since she knew martial arts, why didn't she dodge? Instead, she took the palm strike, and let that man escape.
During this interval, the assassins who had struck had also escaped. Ri Ying and Yue Ying were also injured. Seeing their master's urgency, they disregarded everything else, swiftly mounted their horses, and the group headed toward the imperial palace in grand fashion.
Feng Xie carried Liu Liu into Yong Yuan Hall, his sleeping quarters. This was only the second time this woman had been there; no other woman had ever set foot in it.
Once when she was ill, and this time when she was injured. Why did this woman get hurt so easily? Feng Xie held Liu Liu's small hand, feeling her temperature, and his heart felt a little better.
He immediately ordered Xiao Wanzi to guard outside, forbidding anyone from disturbing them.
He channeled his palm power, drawing her body to sit up slowly. Facing each other, he began to channel his internal energy to heal her wounds. Slowly, a hazy warmth began to emanate from both their heads.
The sleeping quarters were filled with swirling mist. He saw beads of sweat flowing down her cheeks, her dark hair spread out, her hairpins long gone. Her entire face had turned a flushed red from the transmission of his internal energy.
Although her breathing was still weak, he knew she was out of danger. A great weight was lifted from his heart. He slowly withdrew his hands, exhaled, and called out.
"Summon the imperial physician."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Wanzi quickly led the imperial physician in. The Emperor, lifting his silk robe, descended from the bed and gently and carefully settled the Consort.
The imperial physician cautiously approached, first bowing to the Emperor, then checking the Consort's pulse. It turned out to be due to internal injuries, but the wounds had already been treated. Some medication would be needed for recovery.
"Your subject will prescribe a formula for recovery, and the Consort's body will be out of grave danger."
"Very well, go and prepare it. Have it brewed and delivered immediately."
Feng Xie waved his hand, commanding with a stern expression. The imperial physician and Xiao Wanzi retreated trembling, inwardly wondering what had happened to the Emperor. The Consort was injured, yet the Emperor seemed more anxious than anyone. Did he not always dislike the Consort?
He personally healed the Consort, but how had the Consort been injured if she was all right?
Inside the sleeping quarters, Feng Xie sat by the bedside, covering Liu Liu with a silk quilt. He reached out and gently touched her smooth, delicate face, murmuring softly.
"I had the confidence to save you, which is why I said it. But why did you take that palm strike? If I hadn't withdrawn my power quickly, you would have lost your life."
Thinking about it filled him with lingering fear. If something had happened to her, he didn't know what he would do. In short, he was now drawn to her. Whether she was beautiful or not, it had nothing to do with her appearance; it was she herself who had captivated him. Therefore, he would not allow anything to happen to her.
The medicine was brewed, and he personally fed it to her. Only then did he feel relieved. He went to the bathhouse to wash away the sweat and changed into fresh inner garments, then slowly walked out. Xiao Wanzi was looking at him with a distressed expression. Feng Xie glanced at him coldly, crossed his arms, and asked sternly, "What is it now?"
Xiao Wanzi's legs trembled slightly. He carefully and slowly said, "Your Majesty, the Consort woke up earlier, but she returned to Hua Qing Palace."
"What? Are you all eating dry rations? You couldn't even keep a patient?"
Feng Xie waved his hand. Xiao Wanzi was thrown several meters away. Looking up, he saw that the figure had already disappeared. He quickly scrambled to his feet and hurried to follow the retreating figure, repeatedly calling out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wait for this servant."
Liu Liu returned to Hua Qing Palace, her face as pale as a ghost, startling Cui'er and Qiao'er. They quickly helped her, leading her into the sleeping quarters. Cui'er settled the Consort and asked tearfully, "Consort, what happened to you?"
"I'm fine, just let me sleep for a while," Liu Liu didn't want to say more, to avoid Cui'er's alarm. She herself didn't understand what had happened to her, who had always been cold-hearted.
Hearing Feng Xie's words, her heart felt an immense desolation. So, when his palm strike came, she met it without a second thought.
It was also as if she was responding to Hua Wu You's last flicker of hesitation. His heart was not entirely wicked, so she didn't want him to die so casually. Thus, she took the palm strike in his stead.
"Alright, then sleep for a while," Cui'er said, wiping away tears, and tucked her in, then quietly stood guard. Liu Liu let her do as she pleased, saying nothing, extremely weak, and slowly closed her eyes.
Just then, the sleeping quarters' door slammed open. A tall figure walked in from outside, strode imposingly to Liu Liu's bed, and overshadowed the entire light like a pressing mountain.
The entire sleeping quarters suddenly turned chilly, and a cold air permeated the space. Cui'er and Qiao'er shivered and moved aside.
Liu Liu frowned and opened her eyes, looking at the man whose long hair was casually draped over his shoulders. His face was ashen, yet it did not detract from his handsomeness. His inner robe was not even properly fastened, half-open. Why had he rushed over in such a state? She was in no mood to quarrel with him.
Just as she was about to close her eyes again, her body suddenly felt lighter. The man had actually picked her up. Liu Liu's face immediately turned cold.