Chapter Twenty-Six: Where Did This Handsome Young Man Come From?

Just as Hua Rong stood in confusion, the man leapt gracefully, landing steadily right before her.

“Your Highness… are you all right?” he asked.

The man’s eyes were bright, sword-like brows framing a face as radiant as the moon and stars, a beauty almost otherworldly—he seemed as if he’d stepped straight out of a painting.

Hua Rong was momentarily dazed by his looks, lost and uncertain what to do. It wasn’t until Su Xin beside her gave her arm a slight shake that she snapped out of it, forcing an awkward smile. “I’m fine, perfectly fine. What could possibly be wrong?”

She quickly issued an order. “Su Xin, why are you just standing there? Hurry and seize this fellow!”

Now that a hero had come to her aid, although his face was unfamiliar, someone so handsome could hardly be a villain! With her belief that beauty equaled justice, Hua Rong—despite being accustomed to the Emperor’s own unparalleled looks, which were unfortunately unattainable—couldn’t help but swoon over this new face.

Su Xin twitched, her lips almost speechless, but after glancing at Cuiyu, whose face had turned rather unpleasant, she instructed, “Cuiyu, go fetch a rope and tie this man up so he doesn’t cause any more trouble!”

Cuiyu nodded, casting a resentful glare at the assassin. In her heart, she cursed, “Useless wretch! I’ve done all I could, and still you failed to kill her!”

Whether by divine protection or sheer luck, Hua Rong simply seemed impossible to kill.

Once the assassin was bound, Hua Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief and ordered two pots of tea to be brought in, hosting her unexpected savior with due courtesy.

“Sir, thank you for your timely intervention. Please, have some tea.”

The young man accepted without hesitation, taking up the teacup with gentle grace. Every movement exuded refinement; his presence was like a breath of spring, making it hard for one to look away.

Unable to resist, Hua Rong nervously twisted her hands and asked, “My benefactor, you saved me just now, but I still don’t know your name or origin…”

Catching the hopeful look in her eyes, the man let out a soft laugh. After setting down his cup, he regarded Hua Rong with a lingering gaze. “There is no need for thanks, Your Highness. I merely happened to pass by. Let not a hero’s origins be questioned. I hope you understand.”

After all, Hua Rong was the Emperor’s consort. For a man like himself to appear here and share a moonlit encounter with the Emperor’s woman—if his identity were exposed, wouldn’t that be courting disaster?

Hua Rong understood and pressed no further.

But just then, a clamor sounded from outside.

She pursed her lips. “Of all the times to arrive, they choose now? Are they deliberately working against me?”

A moment ago, when her life was in peril, not a soul had come to her aid. Yet now, with a handsome man before her and a hint of romance in the moonlight, the last people she wanted to see had arrived.

“They probably heard the commotion inside and the guards are coming. You—”

Before she could finish, the man suddenly stood up, hands folded, and gave her a courteous bow. “Your Highness, I beg you not to reveal my presence here, lest it bring unnecessary trouble.”

“I understand, I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word. Do you want to hide somewhere?”

She couldn’t help feeling like a criminal caught in the act.

The man merely smiled. “No need. As I came, so shall I go. Your Highness need not trouble yourself.”

With that, he closed his folding fan, vaulted up, and, using a crooked tree nearby, sprang lightly onto the high wall, vanishing into the night.

His movements were swift and fluid as flowing water—breathtaking to witness. “Tell me… was that superb martial skill or sorcery?” Hua Rong wondered. She’d heard such things in martial tales, but never imagined seeing true lightness skill with her own eyes.

As she watched his departing figure, Hua Rong fell into contemplation, only to be interrupted by Su Xin. “Your Highness, you are the Emperor’s consort. How can you look at another man with such admiration? It’s improper…”

Su Xin’s admonition dragged Hua Rong back to reality, and she let out a sigh. “Don’t worry. It’s just a look. This palace is so dull and suffocating—can’t I at least admire a handsome face now and then?”

Day after day, she was surrounded by women of the harem, wolves in sheep’s clothing. Was it so wrong to admire a true lamb when one appeared?

Just as her thoughts tangled, Jun Yeli strode in with a group, catching sight of Hua Rong’s sigh.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, puzzled.

Hua Rong rolled her eyes at him. “How fortunate we are that His Majesty, so busy with state affairs, could rush over so quickly.”

“I was delayed by urgent matters,” he replied.

On the way, he’d spotted a suspicious figure. Thinking it was another palace assassin, Jun Yeli had expended some effort chasing them down. But now, he realized that person seemed intent on delaying him, keeping him from reaching this place in time.

There was no time to dwell on it. Jun Yeli quickly looked Hua Rong over. “Are you all right? I heard there was trouble here.”

Trouble was an understatement…

Hua Rong shrugged, making a face. “The culprit is already captured inside. I’ll go see if it’s the same assassin as before.”

No sooner had she spoken than a cry rang out from the room. “Ah!”

Recognizing Cuiyu’s voice, Hua Rong’s expression changed. “Oh no, that sounded like Cuiyu! The assassin is cunning—what if something’s happened?”

They hurried in, only to gasp in shock.

Cuiyu lay in a pool of blood, a short dagger plunged into her abdomen, shards of a broken teapot scattered nearby.

As for the assassin, he had used a piece of the shattered teapot to cut his bonds and escaped through an open window—now nowhere to be seen.

“Cuiyu, are you all right? What happened?” Hua Rong knelt at her side, panic-stricken.

Watching the blood stream from her wound, she felt a wave of helplessness.

“It’s all my fault, Your Highness. I failed to stop the assassin. Please forgive me…” Cuiyu’s voice trembled, barely audible, and it was heartbreaking to hear.

“That’s enough, don’t say another word!” Hua Rong turned urgently to Su Xin. “Hurry, fetch a physician! She must be treated at once—nothing must go wrong!”

Once Cuiyu was settled, Hua Rong was left in turmoil. “Damn it, he got away again!”