Chapter Forty-Five

  Liu Qingyou was still sitting on the bed in a daze for a long time after Zi Ruoye left, until the little maid brought over the freshly cooked congee and she finally came back to her senses.

  "Has the king left? Young master, you don't know, just now the king was constantly wiping sweat for you, I even suspected that the person just now was not the king I knew?" Putting down the porridge, gently stirring to let the heat dissipate faster, yet still speaking, "I have never seen the king's gentle appearance before."

  Liu Qing was quietly listening, when he had just been dizzy from the smoke, he felt that there were a pair of very gentle hands on his forehead, repeatedly testing the temperature for him. He also thought about how Zi Ruoye had just spoken softly and gently to him, if it were an ordinary woman who saw him in such a unreasonable state, she would have probably turned around and left long ago.

  She slightly lowered her eyelashes, gazing at the steaming hot congee, and smiled softly. "I'm a bit tired, don't need to be served anymore, you can go down first."

  After the servant went down, Liu Qingyou slowly picked up the porcelain bowl and ate the porridge one mouthful at a time. The small, delicate, and moist earlobe was slightly red, indicating that the person had already subtly expressed their intention. Turning her gaze, she found an oil paper package next to the medicine bowl. Puzzled, she put down the bowl and opened the package to find it was sugar lotus seeds.

  He didn't mind the bitterness of the medicine, so no one at home had prepared any sweets to alleviate the lingering bitterness after taking the medicine. Was it left by her? This room probably hadn't been entered by anyone else... The corners of his mouth curved up slightly, and even he himself wasn't aware of it. After obediently drinking down the thick, black medicinal soup, he took out a sugar lotus seed, and the sweet flavor instantly filled his lips. After eating one, he didn't move again.

  Many years later, although Zi Ruoye was still very good to him, every time he thought back, it couldn't compare to the time she quietly left sugar lotus seeds for him when he was sick. Although occasionally Zi Ruoye would also intentionally tease him, saying that the sugar lotus seeds weren't hers, and getting angry until his eyes turned red, only then would Zi Ruoye surrender and comfort him... But all of that is a story for later.

  Zi Ruoye walked into the front hall and saw Liu Chengxiang sitting there drinking tea, his eyes calm and composed. Her initial anxiety dissipated, and her mouth twitched involuntarily - perhaps as long as Liu Qingyu was awake, everything would be alright?

  "Your Highness, you've worked hard." Minister Liu smiled and said to Purple Leaf, the more she looked at her, the more she felt that Purple Leaf was to her taste. In the first half of her life, she had indeed been deceived by rumors and had her ears plugged up, and her eyes blurred.

  "This king has done nothing, but why don't you, Prime Minister, go take a look at him? He just woke up." The prime minister sat beside her, sipping tea, while she drank wine with practiced ease and not a hint of discomfort.

  "Hehe, now that You'er is awake, I can finally rest assured." The wise eyes kept gazing at Ziyue Ye with an air of subtlety, and finally said, "In just a few days, it will be the grand wedding day of You'er and the Prince. Why can't this old minister see any signs of preparation for the wedding in the palace?"

  The big red double happiness character had yet to be seen anywhere, and inside the mansion, there was no sign of welcoming a son-in-law...

  Zi Ruoye's half-closed eyes gazed at Liu Chengxiang, slowly standing up, "Chengxiang, remember to give that imperial edict to Liu Qingyou. This king won't accompany you anymore, this king still likes drinking wine." Saying so, he swayed and walked out of the prime minister's mansion.

  Liu Chengxiang let out a soft sigh and got up to walk towards Liu Qingyu's courtyard. Qingyu... if you still can't see your own heart clearly, I'm afraid even your mother will be powerless.

  After Zi Ruoye walked out of the Prime Minister's mansion, she still had a leisurely pace, and passersby didn't recognize her. After walking for a while, her footsteps slowed down slightly, and she turned into a quiet alley. Her half-closed eyes flashed with a faint light, wondering who was so carefree to take on business so early in the morning...

  The person in the dark hesitated for a moment, but still followed Zi Ruoye's footsteps. After catching up, they saw Zi Ruoye leaning against the stone wall in the alley, drinking wine with a carefree attitude.

  The enemy doesn't move, they don't either.

  "Whose family is this, doing business so early? Recently, it's been really lacking in money?" Zi Ruoye muttered to herself while drinking wine into the empty air.

  There was no human response in the air, but instead, a more solemn and murderous color appeared, different from the fresh morning air. A black shadow flashed by, flying straight towards Ziyue Ye, only to see the sunlight refracting out of the sword light.

  They don't need to say much when they take action, they just kill. Although it's not clear why the client spent so much money this time, they actually hired the Seven Star Assassins. The Seven Star Assassins are not just seven people, but are divided into levels, with the highest being seven stars, followed by six stars, and so on. Even a one-star assassin can completely take down a martial arts master at night, yet this time they sent out five two-star assassins, all for the life of the current King Ye?

  Since they've already taken half the money, they have their own moral code - taking money to kill. The five of them worked together seamlessly, forming a tight and impenetrable sword formation as they charged towards Ziyue Ye.

  Zi Ruoye's eyes were clear and calm, steadily meeting the sword array. It was supposed to be a good day with nice weather, but there were many annoying things, which really made her very unhappy!

  The small wine jug seemed like the hardest weapon in the world, and at the moment it clashed with the precious sword, it emitted a clear and crisp sound. Zi Ruoye held the wine jug,

  Just now I wanted to figure out who was after her life, but the other party just made a few fatal moves, closed their mouth and didn't speak, their eyes slightly sank again, while making another move, they also paid attention to the other party's martial arts route.

  The five people did not expect that what they thought was an easy task to solve, but the other side was so troublesome, and accelerated their offense, and the sword moves became even more fierce!

  "Ah!" Zi Ruoye sucked in a breath of cold air, retreating several steps back. Her arm had been slashed by the sword, and she covered the wound with her left hand. Fresh red blood seeped through her fingers, blooming into flowers on the ground. Zi Ruoye pursed her lips, gazing at the five people in front of her, not saying a word. Indeed, these five people were somewhat too much for her to handle at present, after all, she couldn't use too much of her internal energy.

  Seeing her injured, the five of them slightly gloated. Although they had been circling for so long, how could one person possibly be a match for their five? "Being able to circle with us for so long, it seems that the king's martial arts are indeed profound." Seeing that she no longer had a pale face and was injured, joining their side, in her heart there was already a distinction between victory and defeat. The leader of the group finally spoke up.

  Why does everyone say she hides deeply? Can't she have martial arts and also make it known to the world? Zi Ruoye, however, had a faint smile on her face, with a hint of black in her crimson blood. "Since you all know it's me, are you going to interfere with court affairs as well?"

  Assassin, there are only two paths to take: kill or be killed. This noble reason cannot defend the five people in front of her. As the blood flows away, she suddenly feels a little powerless. Damn it! She can't use her internal force too much, because once she uses it, the blood and qi will flow backwards, causing the poison that was finally suppressed to flow again in her bloodstream!

  "We've always been paid to kill, and have nothing to do with the Jianghu or the imperial court." The sword that had just stabbed Zi Ruoye was still dripping with blood, its blade gleaming coldly. Only now did the five people realize that Zi Ruoye's body was actually highly toxic? Without another word, the five of them flew at Zi Ruoye once again.

  Zi Ruoye's lips curled up lightly, her eyes opened, and the color of her eyes no longer had a hint of intoxication or teasing, but instead was a bloodthirsty black, quietly watching the five people getting closer and closer to her. Zi Ruoye's small wine jug calmly met them, with sword moves flowing like clouds and water, she had always used her wine jug against her enemies, yet it swung out with sharp sword moves!

  The jade body and lid of the teapot collided, producing a series of soft hums, crisp and pleasant to the ear. The five people were increasingly frightened, and just as they were stunned, Ziyue Ye stopped her attack. The five people stared with wide eyes at Ziyue Ye in front of them, one after another falling down, with a sharp red mark on their necks, indicating that they had been killed with one move!

  Covering the wound, lightly panting, damn it! The consequences of forcibly using internal force are indeed unbearable! A thin stream of blood flowed slowly from the corner of her mouth, and her consciousness was cut off in an instant. Hopefully, no one will come while she's unconscious...

  The crisp sound of porcelain echoed in the house, Yun Cong looked at the teacup slipping from his hands, and for a moment, except for the fragments, he couldn't see its original appearance. After Wang Ye went out today, he began to feel restless...

  "Your Highness..." Not a moment to lose, Yun Cong got up and walked out of the palace. The dark shadow didn't know why Yun Cong was leaving, but still followed her. The king had actually arranged all the shadows protecting her by Yun Cong's side. If Yun Cong knew this, she would definitely be angry. But since it was the king's order, they could only obey.

  Your Highness... where are you exactly?

  Went to the prime minister's mansion, but was informed that Purple Leaf had already left. Looking at the current noon sun, the scorching sun shone, but it couldn't compare to Yun Cong's burning heart at this moment.

  Yun Cong, being in a hurry, didn't bring her veil when she came out. With such an excellent appearance, it was inevitable that many people would drool. Looking at the woman standing in front of her, Yun Cong's eyes sank slightly, but she still spoke politely, "I don't know what business you have, miss? If there's nothing, may I leave?"

  "I didn't expect that today, I just happened to glance over and actually found such a high-quality item." The woman looked at Yun Cong, her eyes gleaming with envy, sizing him up from head to toe.

  The overly brazen gaze of the person in front of him made Yun Cong's face turn cold, his clear and crisp voice carrying a warning, "I still have things to do, I'll leave first." He didn't have time to waste with this person here!

  "What's the hurry? What could be more enjoyable than being with my sister?" The man, however, blocked Yun Cong's path once again, looking at her angry face but feeling delighted in his heart. He wondered what kind of charm she would display when she was beneath him.

  Disdain had been brewing in his heart for a long time, as he believed that most women were heartless and lacked empathy, especially towards men. He had lost all illusions about this years ago, which was why when he met Zi Ruoye, his heart became so reckless.

  Who would have known that Yun Cong, who had always been gentle and reserved towards Zi Ruoye, actually had a heart even colder than a woman's?

  Digression

  I've already coded 3,000 words and sent them over... The fish continues to code... What the heck, why is "ice sugar" a forbidden word... Is it because the fish sells well?