Chapter 191

Startled by the Bizarreness

Emperor Shuncheng spoke in a low voice, his pair of gloomy eyes revealing a gloom that made people shudder. Looking in the direction of his gaze, one could see that the person standing before him was actually an elderly eunuch.

Tall and thin, a face full of wrinkles, temples stained with white frost... The elderly eunuch was clearly not young, but his expression was very peaceful. At this time, he was holding a small pot for watering flowers and plants, clearly having been squatting in the corner watering the flowers and plants just now.

This was the most unknown forbidden area in the entire Dongling Imperial Palace! And he was the only palace servant who could freely enter and exit this courtyard. For more than twenty years, he had been taking care of the flowers and plants in this courtyard. But even so, seeing him here at this time, Emperor Shuncheng was still a bit unhappy. Hearing this, the elderly eunuch immediately lowered his head respectfully.

"Your servant is guilty."

"Go down."

"Yes."

Responding respectfully, the elderly eunuch bowed and then left quietly. At this time, Emperor Shuncheng's expression eased slightly, and he walked directly into the only side room in the courtyard...

Night, deep and heavy.

Since returning from the palace, Nie Jinxuan had been sitting in the courtyard, not knowing what she was thinking. Xiao Xiu and Shui Yun didn't dare to make a sound, but could only guard to the side, silent.

But time passed bit by bit, and seeing it was almost the third watch, Xiao Xiu finally couldn't help it, and couldn't help but step forward and whisper.

"The night is deep, Miss should go into the room to rest."

Furrowing her brows slightly, Xiao Xiu's face at this time revealed obvious worry. But hearing this, Nie Jinxuan, who was sitting quietly on the rocking chair, shook her head.

"No, I'm not sleepy yet."

"Then Miss, you must be hungry. How about your servant gets you something to eat? Miss, you haven't eaten dinner, this won't do..."

"Not hungry, it's fine."

"Oh Miss, don't be like this, you are like this, your servant... No, no matter what, you must eat something!"

Xiao Xiu was truly anxious. After speaking, she didn't care what Nie Jinxuan had to say, turned her head to look at Shui Yun, and Shui Yun nodded in understanding, then turned and went to the kitchen...

Watching Shui Yun leave, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but look to the side, then furrowed her brows slightly. At this time, she heard Xiao Xiu say again.

"Miss, you cannot ruin yourself like this. Even if it's a matter of heaven, it's not as important as your own body..."

Although Xiao Xiu went to the palace with Nie Jinxuan today, she didn't go in. So as for what happened to Nie Jinxuan in the palace, neither Xiao Xiu nor Shui Yun knew. But seeing Nie Jinxuan torturing herself like this, Xiao Xiu's heart was twisted.

So saying this, Xiao Xiu stepped forward and leaned closer to Nie Jinxuan, whispering... But just at this moment, just as Xiao Xiu wanted to say something else, she screamed miserably.

"Ah—"

The painful cry echoed throughout the courtyard. Then, Xiao Xiu collapsed onto Nie Jinxuan. At this time, Nie Jinxuan was also stunned, holding Xiao Xiu in her arms, but for a moment, she didn't know what to do!

Perhaps hearing the sound, Shui Yun flew over like lightning, took one look at Xiao Xiu lying on Nie Jinxuan, then raised her head abruptly and chased after the culprit!

At this time, Nie Jinxuan also recovered from the shock, raised her eyes to look, and was stunned on the spot.

It turned out that on Xiao Xiu's right shoulder blade, an arrow was stuck! At this very moment, bright red blood had already stained half of Xiao Xiu's back, and the pungent smell of blood made one feel wary!

But Nie Jinxuan was different from ordinary women. After a brief moment of being stunned, her expression froze.

"Someone! Come quickly!"

Nie Jinxuan shouted loudly. After speaking, a group of guards flew over quickly. Seeing Nie Jinxuan holding the injured Xiao Xiu, everyone was startled. After all, they were specially invited to protect Nie Jinxuan, but now, anyone with eyes could see that someone had tried to assassinate Nie Jinxuan but accidentally hit Xiao Xiu.

Everyone's expression was solemn, but at this time, Nie Jinxuan didn't have time to blame them for their dereliction of duty, so she ordered continuously.

"Don't just stand there, you two, help me carry Xiao Xiu into the room. You, go get a doctor quickly! Hurry!"

"Uh... yes, yes..."

Everyone responded one after another. Afterward, under Nie Jinxuan's command, Xiao Xiu was helped into the room. At this time, Shui Yun also flew back. Seeing Xiao Xiu on the bed, Shui Yun drove the guards out of the room.

Once they were gone, Shui Yun stepped forward, but just as she wanted to report the result of her pursuit, Nie Jinxuan interrupted her first.

"Don't speak yet, saving Xiao Xiu is urgent."

Such a thing happened in Nie Jinxuan's courtyard, which alarmed the entire Prince's mansion. However, after everyone came over, it was the maid Xiao Xiu who was injured, not Nie Jinxuan, so they left.

Afterward, not long after, the doctor arrived. After the doctor examined her, it turned out that Xiao Xiu had injured her right shoulder blade. Although it was a bit heavy, it didn't hurt any vital parts, and after resting for a few days, she would be fine.

Hearing the doctor say this, Nie Jinxuan finally put her heart, which had been in her throat, back into her stomach. Afterward, the doctor told Nie Jinxuan some things, wrote a prescription, and then left.

Once the doctor left, Nie Jinxuan immediately had the servants get the medicine overnight. Once everything was done, and seeing Xiao Xiu sleeping on the bed, Nie Jinxuan turned to give Shui Yun a look, then took Shui Yun away.

Nie Jinxuan took Shui Yun back to her room. Once she sat down, Nie Jinxuan looked up at Shui Yun in front of her and asked.

"Shui Yun, what happened?"

"Replying to Miss, the murderer should have been lying in ambush on the eaves outside the courtyard, then took the opportunity to attack Miss!"

"Did you catch the person?"

"Your servant is ashamed, no."

Actually, with Shui Yun's martial arts, catching the other party wouldn't be difficult. But the key was that when the murderer attacked, Shui Yun was not in the courtyard. By the time Shui Yun heard Xiao Xiu's scream and flew over, and then chased after them, it was clearly too late!

Nie Jinxuan naturally understood this in her heart, and nodded slightly.

"Did you find any clues?"

"No, your servant only saw the murderer go toward the east, but after chasing for a few steps, I couldn't see them anymore... Furthermore, your servant didn't dare to go too far, so..."

Shui Yun was eager to chase the murderer at the time, but she was also afraid of falling into the enemy's trap of 'luring the tiger away from the mountain'. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but look at Shui Yun again and said slowly.

"Alright Shui Yun, I know your concerns. Besides, today's matter was too sudden, and you weren't there at the time. I didn't blame you, so don't blame yourself too much~!"

Afraid Shui Yun would overthink, Nie Jinxuan comforted her. After speaking, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but sigh.

"But then again, today is the seventh, not the full moon of the fifteenth. It's indeed hard to track in the dark! Forget it, anyway, there are many people who want my life, so no need to investigate. Now I just hope Xiao Xiu can recover from her injuries as soon as possible, otherwise, I feel very guilty in my heart..."

Xiao Xiu had always been by her side, so Nie Jinxuan naturally had feelings for her. Now that she was accidentally injured because of her, Nie Jinxuan naturally felt very guilty. Speaking of this, Nie Jinxuan stood up and walked toward the dressing table... But just at this moment, Nie Jinxuan had only taken two steps when she stopped abruptly. Seeing this, Shui Yun, who was feeling annoyed, couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Miss, what's wrong with you?"

Nie Jinxuan's behavior was a bit abnormal. But at this time, Nie Jinxuan stood there quietly, saying nothing.

For a time, there was no sound in the large room. Finally, after a while, just as Shui Yun wanted to step forward to see what was wrong with Nie Jinxuan, Nie Jinxuan suddenly asked in a low voice.

"Shui Yun, today is the seventh, right."

"Uh... yes, yes Miss..."

"When you went out to chase the murderer, did you see clearly?"

"Uh... not very clearly, after all, the sky was too dark..."

Shui Yun didn't understand why Nie Jinxuan wanted to ask about what just happened again, but she still answered respectfully. At this time, hearing this, Nie Jinxuan's expression shook, and without thinking, she said.

"Then if that's the case, why did that palace maid named Chun'e say that on the night of the incident, she saw a figure flash past outside?!"

Yes, today she only focused on chasing clues, but ignored a crucial question: Noble Consort Zhang's incident happened on the first, and today is the seventh. The light wasn't very good on either day, so there was almost no moonlight on the night of the first. How could she see a black shadow flash past clearly? And even see clearly that it was 'a' figure?!

Nie Jinxuan felt terrified, while Shui Yun looked puzzled. Afterward, Nie Jinxuan restrained her expression and said in a low voice.

"Shui Yun, you go down and make arrangements later, have someone take good care of Xiao Xiu, and then follow me into the palace early tomorrow morning!"

"Yes."

Nie Jinxuan had doubts in her heart. The next morning, she got up early, and before the sky was even bright, she took a carriage into the palace.

But Nie Jinxuan forgot that she was no longer the Princess Consort of Prince Chen, but a minister's daughter, so she naturally couldn't enter the palace at will. But at the palace gate, just as Nie Jinxuan was hesitating about how to get in, she saw a middle-aged man in official robes riding a horse from afar, then waited until he reached the palace gate and dismounted nimbly.

Suddenly, Nie Jinxuan was stunned for a moment, then looked closely. At this time, she saw that the person was in his forties, tall, sturdy, with thick brows and big eyes, and deep features, possessing a martial general's dignity and a sense of uprightness!

Nie Jinxuan didn't recognize him. At this time, as if sensing Nie Jinxuan's gaze, the middle-aged man turned his head to look. But the moment he saw Nie Jinxuan, he was stunned, but then walked over with a smile.

"Hehe~, may I ask this young lady, if I haven't recognized you wrongly, you are the Third Miss of the Nie family, right~!"