Chapter Eight: So You Think You're Funny

"Heh, you're holding a knife, and the one lying on the ground is Suxin. Yet you claim he was plotting against you? Clearly, the two of you are accomplices!" Consort Wan seized the moment, pressing relentlessly, leaving them not the slightest chance to retreat.

Huarong was utterly bewildered, dazed and confused, and dropped the knife to the ground. "No, he gave it to me—I didn't want it!"

Even now, Huarong's mind was still in a fog. She pinned her hopes for survival on the true orchestrator of the situation. "Your Majesty, you must believe me! I am devoted to you, how could I ever conspire with another to harm you?"

If she could, Huarong wished she could transform herself into a proper lady, weeping with delicate tears to evoke pity and sympathy. Otherwise, in her current predicament, she feared her innocence could not be proven even with a thousand explanations.

But just as her words fell, the assassin suddenly blocked her path with a hand, speaking sharply, "Your Grace, please rest assured, I will protect you and guarantee your safe exit!"

"You—what do you mean by this? Are we even acquainted?" Huarong truly felt the urge to slap him, but the assassin replied with righteous confidence, "Your Grace, at this point, with everything exposed, there's no need to conceal our connection any longer. If need be, I will fight them to the death!"

What nonsense was this?

"What are you talking about? Do you think you're funny? This is not a joke—you're an assassin, I am a consort, people could die!"

Huarong felt utterly helpless, as if the knife, though not touching her, was stabbing her in the heart.

Jun Yeli had not yet spoken when Consort Wan pounced on the opportunity, unwilling to let go. "Your Majesty, you see, Consort Rong has been plotting all along! Now she colludes with an assassin against you—this is outrageous!"

Faced with her shrill accusations, Jun Yeli found it grating, but he nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed... it is outrageous!"

"Your Majesty, I am innocent, please don't be misled by their nonsense!" Huarong tried to rush forward.

Seeing this, a group of guards surrounded Huarong, their spears pointed straight at her. "Consort Rong, how dare you! Even now you try to feign weakness and attempt assassination? Surrender at once!"

"Are you out of your minds? The knife is on the ground—what am I supposed to assassinate you with? My mouth?!"

Huarong took a deep breath. Despite her indignation, the sight of drawn blades left her terrified and lost, so she cast a pleading glance at Jun Yeli. After all, everyone else seemed eager to kick her while she was down, Suxin was absent, and no one could vouch for her. Now, she truly was unable to defend herself.

"Lock them all up," Jun Yeli ordered, without further interrogation, and swept away with a flick of his sleeve.

Just then, a fit of coughing echoed from the crowd, "Cough, cough... What's going on? Who attacked me just now?"

The sudden voice startled Huarong. She turned to see Suxin, supporting himself against the wall, staggering to his feet.

"Suxin, you're alright! I was so worried about you!"

Seeing this, Jun Yeli couldn't help but turn back as well.

Suxin, staring at the assassin ahead, paled in fright and shrank back. "There's an assassin! You attacked me earlier!"

The assassin hesitated for a moment, dark weapon poised, and moved to strike at Huarong.

But at that critical moment, Jun Yeli reacted swiftly, pulling the jade hairpin from his crown and shooting it at the assassin's wrist, pinning his hand firmly to the wall.

In that instant, the man's hair fell loose, cascading elegantly to his waist. If not for his unmistakable masculinity, he could have been mistaken for either gender.

Huarong was utterly stunned. "He's... truly beautiful!"

Before, she'd always tried to avoid this man and never really looked at him. But now, as she focused, his delicate features were tinged with an indefinable authority, a wildness that made him intimidating.

"Oh heavens, is now really the time to think of such things?" Huarong snapped out of it, and, before the assassin could strike again, hurried over to Suxin and dragged her to her side.

She asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Suxin shook her head, a touch moved. "I'm fine, Your Grace. I never expected you to be so caring toward me—I'm truly touched..."

"Enough, you should have spoken up sooner. With so many maids and eunuchs in the palace, why did he single you out? What happened? Explain to everyone, now!"

Suxin, spared for the moment, had become her savior.

Upon hearing this, Suxin lowered her head, deep in thought. Far off, Cuiyu watched anxiously, her heart full of fear. "What should I do? What if it's discovered?"

While she fretted, Suxin suddenly recalled, "I remember now! When I went to fetch water, I saw this man negotiating in the courtyard, plotting against Your Grace. I was discovered by accident, and they attacked me. When I woke up, this was the scene before me..."

Looking around, aside from the torchlight, the guards stood in a formidable row, led by Jun Yeli with a stern, somber face.

"Thank heavens, the gods have eyes—my innocence is finally restored!"

Huarong breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest in gratitude for divine mercy. She quickly turned to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, you heard it all—I have been falsely accused!"

Jun Yeli's eyes flashed, and he spoke abruptly, "Seize the assassin and interrogate him thoroughly!"

At this, Consort Wan, standing nearby, stiffened like stone, unable to recover for a long moment.

"Damn it! Such a meticulous plan—how was it exposed so easily!"

She had intended to frame Huarong for colluding with people from Daying, conspiring against the Emperor. Who could have foreseen such a dramatic reversal halfway through?

Her heart full of dread, she narrowed her eyes, frantically signaling to the captured assassin.