A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1195: Assassin Attack

Within the enveloping darkness.

Over twenty shadowy figures descended upon the courtyard like a volley of poisoned swords, converging from every direction.

In mere moments, the small courtyard was completely encircled.

By the time Zhao Junyao emerged to survey the scene.

The two Imperial Bodyguards he had brought with him were already locked in a fierce struggle against the assailants.

Even though these two guards were elite experts, chosen from a multitude of candidates.

Facing over twenty assassins, their exceptional skills were no match for the sheer number of opponents, as two hands could hardly fend off such a large group.

Witnessing the dire situation.

Zhao Junyao promptly fired several signal flares into the sky and then instructed Xia Ruqing.

"Secure the doors and windows tightly, and no matter what you hear, do not venture out!"

With that, he sprang forward, drawing his sword, and joined the fray against the attackers.

Xia Ruqing, momentarily stunned by fear, quickly regained her senses.

Without delay, she hurried around the house, ensuring all doors and windows were shut and extinguishing every candle within.

Once she confirmed the interior was completely secured.

She cautiously approached a window and peered outside through a narrow gap.

The night was profoundly dark, rendering all visibility impossible.

She could only vaguely perceive a swarm of figures clad in black, flitting about like nocturnal bats.

Occasionally, a fleeting glimpse of Zhao Junyao’s sleeve would catch her eye.

His martial arts prowess was astonishing, his movements so swift and elusive that all she could discern was the brief flutter of his garment.

Xia Ruqing turned away and sank to the floor, her mind reeling.

"They truly are... assassins!"

"Of all the nights, they chose my first night out to launch an attack!"

"Could it be... they're actually targeting me?!"

An inexplicable wave of dread washed over her.

She recalled her earlier, confident vow to stand by his side and face any danger.

Yet now, before the ordeal had truly begun, she found herself paralyzed by terror, feeling deeply ashamed of her own cowardice!

The clamor of the battle outside suddenly intensified.

Her fear escalating, Xia Ruqing thought.

"Heavens, what if more enemies arrive?!"

"Could His Majesty be in peril?!"

On pure instinct, she seized a nearby chair, adopting a defensive posture.

She made a silent, resolute promise.

Should anyone breach the room, she would fight with all her might, ensuring at least one attacker fell with her, refusing to perish without resistance (a timid yet fierce resolve to defend herself~).

Deep within the darkness.

Her heart pounding a frantic rhythm, she crept closer to the window, straining to listen.

Amidst the muffled sounds of conflict, a voice reached her ears.

"Forgive my tardiness, Your Majesty, in arriving to your aid!"

Xia Ruqing released a profound sigh of relief.

She set the chair down and began to gently massage her legs, which felt as weak and unsteady as cooked noodles, murmuring to herself.

"Thank goodness, reinforcements have arrived!"

"I truly am such a coward!"

...

Outside, Zhao Junyao’s gaze was piercing, his lips set in a firm line, exuding a frigid aura.

Wielding his sword, he executed maneuvers of unparalleled precision and lethality, each strike swift and deadly.

All the pent-up frustration from his prolonged and fruitless search for Zhao Junqi during this period was unleased upon the unfortunate assassins.

In less time than it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, Zhao Junyao single-handedly eliminated half of the attackers.

Just as the Imperial Forest Army, alerted by the signal flares, rushed to the scene and knelt to offer apologies for their delayed arrival.

Zhao Junyao seemed to be in a state of uncontrolled fury.

With a mighty roar, he commanded.

"Hold your positions, I shall handle the rest personally!"

Having been subjected to such prolonged manipulation and wasted effort, if he did not release his pent-up anger, he felt he would surely suffocate.

The disposition of an emperor is rarely characterized by gentle leniency.

The Imperial Forest Army remained kneeling, utterly bewildered, hesitant to make any move.

'What is this situation? Did His Majesty summon us merely to witness him slaughtering assassins?!'

'It appears that might indeed be the case!'

'...'

In total, twenty-six assassins were involved in the night's assault.

Zhao Junyao personally dispatched twenty of them, while the remaining six were apprehended alive.

Swiftly.

Commander Xu had these six captured assassins bound and presented on the open ground before Zhao Junyao.

"Awaiting Your Majesty’s command!"

Zhao Junyao cast his gaze upon the tightly bound assassins and issued his order.

"Conduct a thorough interrogation!"

"Ascertain, without a doubt, the identity of the mastermind behind this plot!"

Commander Xu bowed in agreement.

At that very moment.

From a nearby position, Imperial Censor Zhou suddenly stepped forward, rushing before Zhao Junyao, and swiftly twisted the jaws of the captured assassins.

In an instant, several assassins had their jaws dislocated.

"Pray forgive my abrupt actions, Your Majesty!" declared Imperial Censor Zhou.

Zhao Junyao observed the assassins, who had been on the verge of biting down on hidden poison to end their lives, but whose jaws had been forcibly dislocated just in time, and let out a cold sneer.

"Do you truly believe you can escape that easily with merely yourselves?!"

"Escort them away!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Commander Xu, still harboring a sense of unease, quickly instructed his men to remove the prisoners.

The remaining individuals departed as well.

With a final sweep of his gaze, Zhao Junyao issued additional instructions for a 'thorough search and investigation' before he too made his exit.

...

Upon returning inside.

He found Xia Ruqing standing by the doorway.

Her attire was thin, her complexion pale, and despite her obvious lingering fear, she made a considerable effort to compose herself, a sight that stirred a pang of heartache in Zhao Junyao.

"Are you unharmed? Did the events frighten you?"

Xia Ruqing offered a slight shake of her head.

"I was startled initially, but I am fine now!"

A gentle smile touched Zhao Junyao's lips.

"So, you've become more courageous than before?"

Xia Ruqing managed a weak smile in return.

"Perhaps!"

Hearing her words, Zhao Junyao remained silent.

He returned his sword to its sheath and entered the room, Xia Ruqing following him quietly.

It was precisely at this juncture.

Li Shengan and Zi Su, accompanied by a retinue of servants, hurried in, their faces ashen. They all prostrated themselves before their lord and lady.

"Please forgive us, Your Majesty, and forgive us, Empress!"

Zhao Junyao's eyes lifted fractionally.

"All of you, rise!"

Li Shengan's legs trembled, rendering him unable to stand, and he didn't dare to try, only letting out a sob.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to be put to death!"

"When the assassins launched their attack, I failed to charge out immediately!"

Zi Su also lay prone, tears coursing down her face.

Given that the Emperor possessed martial prowess, whether Eunuch Li had charged forward or not was a lesser concern.

However, their mistress, who knew nothing of combat and was trapped within, must have endured immense terror and solitude!

It was a great relief that nothing had befallen their mistress.

Had something occurred, how could she possibly live with herself?!

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing exchanged a look.

Zhao Junyao's voice cut through the air, laced with disdain.

"The assassins were in the rear courtyard; your quarters were not far. Were you attempting to rush to your doom?"

Under such circumstances, Li Shengan might have met his end before even getting past his own doorway.

"While I find cowardice contemptible, if you perish, it becomes difficult to find suitable replacements!"

"Therefore, for the present, live on! However, ensure this never transpires again!"

Drenched in a cold sweat, Li Shengan hastily bowed his head.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for showing clemency!"

Xia Ruqing also quickly instructed Zi Su.

"Stand up at once; this is not your doing!"

Self-preservation is a fundamental instinct; hadn't she herself been petrified?

While she valued loyalty, she did not wish for it to manifest as a reckless charge towards certain death.

Such an act would not be loyalty, but sheer foolishness!

"If there is nothing further, you may take your leave!" Xia Ruqing commanded.

"Yes!"

"This humble servant will now retire!" Both bowed their heads in agreement and departed.

...

By the time all the arrangements were concluded, the hour had approached midnight.

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing lay upon the bed, yet neither could find a moment's sleep.