"Hiss hiss hiss!"
As Xiao Ye approached the grass on horseback, a group of masked figures suddenly appeared!
They held swords and fiercely lunged towards Xiao Ye.
They've arrived!
The Empress's final setup had finally materialized. Upon seeing the masked figures, her gaze was cold and calm.
The sudden ambush by these masked men was aimed directly at Xiao Ye's chest and face!
The horse, startled, reared its front hooves. Xiao Ye's clothes were grazed by a sharp sword, but thankfully, his movements were quick enough that he was unharmed!
Mu Qinglan, behind him, deliberately stirred trouble. "Prime Minister Xiao, protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor! These assassins are targeting me..."
The Empress obstructed Xiao Ye from pulling the reins, feigning extreme panic.
This made it difficult for Xiao Ye to fend off the masked attackers. His arm was accidentally slashed by a sword.
Blood began to gush from Xiao Ye's arm!
The Empress exclaimed with feigned urgency, "Prime Minister Xiao, you're wounded."
Xiao Ye grabbed a bow and arrow. Having also been a military general, he managed to force the masked figures back.
He dismounted and pulled the Empress away.
The Empress saw Xiao Ye using his Qinggong (lightness skill) to desperately flee towards the exit of the hunting grounds.
However, they had already ventured deep into the hunting grounds, and escaping was not going to be easy.
After being pulled along for a distance, Mu Qinglan anxiously exclaimed, "I can't walk any further, Prime Minister Xiao. You go on without me!"
Xiao Ye saw the struggling Empress, who appeared utterly exhausted.
She told Prime Minister Xiao to leave, but if Prime Minister Xiao dared to escape alone, he would be guilty of failing to protect the Emperor. Mu Qinglan could still indict Xiao Ye even after reaching outside the hunting grounds.
Therefore, Xiao Ye had no choice but to stay.
The masked figures pursued relentlessly and soon appeared within the Empress's sight.
Xiao Ye had no weapons on him, and they were still some distance from the edge of the hunting grounds.
Facing the assassins' weapons, they had nowhere to go.
Xiao Ye's expression darkened. He said to Mu Qinglan, "Your Majesty Empress, I will deal with these assassins. You should hurry and leave."
Hearing his urging, Mu Qinglan knitted her brows and feigned shared determination, "Prime Minister Xiao, I am not leaving."
However.
To the Empress's utter surprise, Xiao Ye used his internal energy to push her away!
"Your safety is paramount to the dynasty. My life... is insignificant."
The Empress was propelled away by the internal force, her vision of Xiao Ye growing increasingly distant.
However, she saw the assassins surrounding him. The Empress noticed they became even more unrestrained.
The last thing Mu Qinglan saw was the dark, luminous glow in Xiao Ye's eyes.
He gazed at her, his expression filled with a tenderness she had never seen before.
When you look at me, there is no trace of panic in the face of danger.
Like your younger self, steady and firm.
As if protecting me is your willing devotion.
The Empress's nose stung. She could no longer see the battle.
She also knew that Xiao Ye would not survive the assassins.
Because the number of assassins surrounding Xiao Ye this time was at least dozens!
Xiao Ye was unarmed and could not fight as he did on the battlefield.
He would die...
By the time Mu Qinglan, with a complex and calm demeanor, exited the royal hunting grounds.
The ministers standing outside the gate saw the Empress's clothes were slightly disheveled, but she appeared to be safe.
Their figures trembled with panic as they asked, "Your Majesty Empress, how are you?"
Mu Qinglan did not send anyone to rescue Xiao Ye. She simply stated in a deep voice, "The Prime Minister and I encountered danger within the hunting grounds. He did not survive to protect me."
Upon hearing this news, all the ministers showed expressions of shock.
They looked at the Empress in astonishment, but how could the truth spoken by Mu Qinglan be false?
"Grand Commandant, quickly dispatch people to search the hunting grounds. I want you to rescue Prime Minister Xiao."
Mu Qinglan feigned majestic anger. The Grand Commandant nodded, understanding her intentions.
The ministers loyal to Prime Minister Xiao received the news as if it were a bolt from the blue.
Their reactions were stiff; they felt a great darkness descend upon Prime Minister Xiao's faction!
The Grand Commandant led a group of palace attendants into the forest, following the Empress's instructions to find Prime Minister Xiao.
However, since Mu Qinglan wanted Xiao Ye dead, the Grand Commandant would only find Xiao Ye's corpse.
Mu Qinglan cast one last glance at the hunting grounds, recalling Xiao Ye's gaze just moments ago.
That gaze, so genuinely determined...
If only you weren't a treacherous minister.
Mu Qinglan murmured to herself, then turned her head sharply away.
The royal hunting grounds were forcibly closed, and everyone within was escorted out.
Marquis Lin'an dismounted from his steed, unsurprised to learn about the events in the hunting grounds.
However, he put on a show of great sorrow. Upon meeting the Empress, he said, "Prime Minister Xiao is blessed with good fortune; he should not have died in the hunting grounds."
Mu Qinglan's expression grew somewhat grim. She said with authority, "I, too, believe that Prime Minister Xiao will surely survive."
Knowing there were countless assassins in the hunting grounds, Xiao Ye's chances of survival were extremely slim.
The ministers of the Prime Minister's faction stood rigidly in the pavilion.
They were awaiting the results of the search!
Marquis Lin'an offered some insincere words and saw a hint of worry on the Empress's face.
Mu Qinglan lived up to her reputation as a domineering and cold emperor. Despite having arranged for Xiao Ye's assassination, she could still appear as if... she was grieving for him.
Only Mu Qinglan knew that she truly felt sad for Xiao Ye.
After a considerable amount of time, the Grand Commandant arrived with a pale and despondent face.
Seeing the Grand Commandant arrive with a corpse, Mu Qinglan's heart suddenly tightened.
Marquis Lin'an concealed the smile on his face as he witnessed the Grand Commandant's feigned grief.
He acted out his sorrow so vividly and realistically.
"Grand Commandant, did you bring back Prime Minister Xiao's body? Could it be that Prime Minister Xiao... is truly dead?!"
Marquis Lin'an pretended disbelief.
The Grand Commandant's eyes reddened, his aura radiating sorrow.
Mu Qinglan also felt a pang of sadness. "Grand Commandant, you have brought back Prime Minister Xiao's body?"
Under the panicked gazes of the ministers from the Prime Minister's faction!
The Grand Commandant's tears flowed freely, "No, Your Excellency. I and the guards entered the hunting grounds and could not find any trace of Prime Minister Xiao or any assassins. Instead... instead, my son met a tragic death in the hunting grounds!"
Everyone was stunned.
They realized then that the Grand Commandant's grief was not fake, for his son, whom he had brought to the hunting grounds, had died!
"This corpse is that of my own child!"
The Grand Commandant could not comprehend how he had entered the hunting grounds with joy, only to find the corpse of his own son.
Marquis Lin'an exclaimed in surprise, "You didn't see Prime Minister Xiao's body?"
The Grand Commandant shook his head.
After searching the entire royal hunting grounds, Xiao Ye had vanished as if into thin air!
Along with those... assassins!
Not seeing Xiao Ye's body, the Empress felt a sense of relief instead.
She could not bear to see Xiao Ye's tragic state and also wondered why even the assassins could not be found in the hunting grounds.
Suddenly.
A minister stammered, "Could Prime Minister Xiao have been... eaten by the wolves in the hunting grounds?"
This was a hunt organized by the Empress, and all sorts of animals existed in the forest.
Not only wolves, but also leopards and tigers!
Although the Empress had not encountered them before, it was not impossible for Xiao Ye to have been eaten.
Marquis Lin'an added, "With so many assassins, Prime Minister Xiao's fate is likely dire."
Mu Qinglan also recalled the scene; it was impossible for Xiao Ye to have come out alive.