Safe and Sound

The palace maid moved swiftly. In the space of a breath, she was already a single step away from Hua Meng.

Seeing that the pastries the maid had thrown, along with the thick porcelain plate holding them, were about to strike Hua Meng, Ling Cui, who was following just behind her, reached out without thinking and wrapped an arm around Hua Meng's waist. She pulled Hua Meng into her embrace and turned around.

The heavy porcelain plate hit Ling Cui's back with a thud. At the same moment, Consort Ying, who had been beside Hua Meng, raised her foot and kicked the maid squarely in the chest.

With a bang, Consort Ying sent the maid flying several steps away.

Only then did the other consorts finally come to their senses.

Consort Wan had been a step slower than Ling Cui, but she too had moved to protect Hua Meng. Seeing Ling Cui holding Hua Meng tightly now, she looked up at Consort Qi, the highest-ranking woman present.

Consort Wan's look brought Consort Qi instantly to her senses.

She first gave Hua Meng an anxious look. Seeing that the palace maid Hua Meng had brought was still holding her protectively, and that Consort Wan was standing beside her as a shield, she turned to the dazed maid on the ground. "Someone, seize her!"

As soon as Consort Qi spoke, Consort Ying walked over to the maid and, just as the maid was coming to her senses, dislocated her jaw.

Consort Qi froze for a moment before realizing why Consort Ying had done it. She looked up at the crowd, who were clearly still in a panic, and ordered loudly, "Everyone, calm down!"

At Consort Qi's angry shout, the consorts finally fell completely silent.

Seeing that everyone had finally calmed down, Consort Qi immediately turned to Consort Wan and Consort Ying. "Consort Wan, Consort Ying, I'm leaving this place to you. You must keep Consort Jing safe." With that, Consort Qi glanced at the other consorts. Seeing that they were still flustered, she continued, "I'll go and see what's happening up ahead. All of you, come over here and surround Consort Jing."

Consort Qi's meaning was clear: if assassins really did come in later, they were to protect Hua Meng.

Even if they were all attacked, Consort Jing had to be the last person the assassins injured.

Though the consorts were reluctant, Consort Wan and Consort Ying exchanged a glance and had already taken action.

Of the two, Consort Wan stayed close to Hua Meng to protect her, while Consort Ying slowly undid her belt under everyone's astonished gazes.

Only when Consort Ying had completely removed the belt did everyone realize that she had been wearing two belts all along. The outer one was a flexible sword.

No one thought to reproach Consort Ying for daring to carry a weapon on her person. They all understood now that if assassins really did fight their way in, perhaps only Consort Ying, who came from a family of generals and had practiced martial arts since childhood, could save them.

Seeing that everyone had Hua Meng well protected, Consort Qi glanced at Chunlan beside her, then turned without hesitation and led her outside.

Only after Consort Qi had left with her attendant did Hua Meng fully come to her senses.

The whole affair had seemed long, but in truth, not much time had passed.

Feeling Ling Cui still trembling as she held her tightly, Hua Meng raised a hand and patted her arm. "I'm all right. Don't be afraid."

At the sound of Hua Meng's voice, Ling Cui finally began to stop trembling.

Consort Wan sighed as she looked at the mistress and servant, then turned to Ling Cui. "You're a loyal one."

As soon as Consort Wan finished speaking, Jiang Chan, who had gone to check the food at Hua Meng's seat, finally squeezed her way in from outside.

The moment Jiang Chan entered, she reached out and took Hua Meng's wrist. After taking two deep breaths, she calmed herself and checked Hua Meng's pulse.

A moment later, Jiang Chan breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness was somewhat frightened, but the fetus is unharmed." After saying this, Jiang Chan could not help marveling inwardly, Her Highness Consort Jing is in such good health.

After the disturbance just now, anyone in even slightly poorer health would likely have shown signs of a miscarriage.

Jiang Chan had spoken quite loudly. Hearing that Hua Meng was not unwell, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They had been somewhat worried about their own lives just now, but after hearing Consort Qi's words, they all understood that even if they all died, the emperor would surely reward their families as long as Consort Jing was safe.

But if they were all safe and something happened to Consort Jing, there was no telling what heaven-overturning wrath awaited them.

At that moment, Emperor Jing'an truly wished he could tear the assassins blocking him from going to the Imperial Garden into ten thousand pieces.

As soon as he had heard that there were assassins in the Imperial Garden, he had put down the memorial in his hand and headed outside. At the same time, he had blamed Consort Qi inwardly for holding the Flower-Viewing Banquet that day.

When he walked out of Phoenix Approaches Palace and saw that the so-called assassins were merely a few elderly eunuchs, he knew that today's assassins were nothing but a diversion.

Just as his heart was burning with anxiety and he longed to know what was happening in the Imperial Garden, Consort Qi arrived with her attendant.

The elderly eunuchs were either cut down by the guards or, seeing they were no match for them, drew their blades and slit their own throats. Emperor Jing'an had just been about to order that one be taken alive when the last surviving eunuch saw Consort Qi appear and immediately raised his blade and slit his throat.

Seeing that the elderly eunuchs were all dead, Emperor Jing'an turned his gaze to Consort Qi and studied her expression. Seeing no sadness on her face, he asked, "How is Consort Jing?"

Though Consort Qi knew that what Emperor Jing'an cared about most now was the child in Consort Jing's womb, hearing that Hua Meng was the first person he asked after still left her heart aching unbearably.

Only after repeatedly telling herself that the emperor was merely concerned about the child in Consort Jing's womb did Consort Qi look at Emperor Jing'an and say, "Consort Jing is unharmed." Having reassured him with those words, she briefly told him what had just happened in the Imperial Garden.

Hearing that Hua Meng's maid had protected her the instant it happened, and that Consort Ying had then kicked down the maid who had tried to charge into her and dislocated her jaw, Emperor Jing'an nodded to Consort Qi. "You have all done well."

With that, Emperor Jing'an looked at Wei Fugui and Si Yi, the commander of the guards, before him. "I'll leave this to the two of you. Investigate thoroughly!"

As soon as Emperor Jing'an finished speaking, Wei Fugui and Si Yi hurriedly answered in unison, "We obey."

Wei Fugui was Emperor Jing'an's trusted aide and the palace's chief eunuch. With him overseeing the matter, Emperor Jing'an could rest easy.

As for Si Yi, he too was Emperor Jing'an's trusted aide. He came from another of Great Yue's families of generals and was one of Emperor Jing'an's former study companions.

With the two of them investigating the matter thoroughly, Emperor Jing'an felt at ease leading Consort Qi to the Imperial Garden.

By the time they reached the Imperial Garden, the consorts had escorted Hua Meng behind the tables and sat down with her.

The consorts were sitting in an undignified circle around Hua Meng. Only Consort Ying stood guard with her flexible sword, while her maid kept a palace maid under watch.

Emperor Jing'an was satisfied by the sight and nodded. "You have all done well. Once this is over, you will all be rewarded."

Everyone had risen as soon as Emperor Jing'an appeared, and now, hearing his words, they happily curtsied and thanked him for his grace.

Besides their delight at receiving rewards, they were naturally even happier that Emperor Jing'an was unharmed and that they themselves were safe.

They all understood, however, that the greatest credit today belonged to Consort Jing's maid and Consort Ying.

Consort Ying had put away her flexible sword the moment Emperor Jing'an appeared. Acting as though he had not seen the sword in her hand earlier, Emperor Jing'an looked at her and said, "Didn't you want to leave the palace and spend a few days at your estate? Once this matter has been investigated, I'll permit you to stay there for a while."

Emperor Jing'an did not promote Consort Ying, because the rules of the inner palace dictated that a woman's birth determined her rank when she entered the palace, and she could only be promoted for becoming pregnant and bearing a child or for saving the emperor.

Though Consort Ying had saved Hua Meng today, Hua Meng was not yet the empress. Her achievement was considerable, but it did not count as saving the emperor.

Consort Ying did not care whether she was promoted, but Emperor Jing'an clearly knew her character well. Permitting her to leave the palace and stay away for a while was the best reward he could give her.

After saying this to Consort Ying, Emperor Jing'an turned to Ling Cui beside Hua Meng.

"You are a loyal one. I know that you and Consort Jing grew up together and are as close as sisters. When you leave the palace in the future, I will grant you a reward."

At Emperor Jing'an's words, all but a few of the nobly born consorts were immensely envious of Ling Cui.

They all understood that since Emperor Jing'an had spoken of granting a reward, it would certainly include a rank.

Ling Cui was no longer as frightened as she had been. Having spent so long in the palace, she understood what Emperor Jing'an meant, and she immediately thanked him joyfully for his grace.

Once Emperor Jing'an had acknowledged the two who deserved the most credit, he turned to Hua Meng. "Are you feeling unwell at all?"

Hua Meng did not feel unwell, though she still decided to take a drop of Spirit Spring to protect her pregnancy when she returned to Sparrow Plume Palace. "I'm all right. Nanny Jiang has already checked my pulse."

Only after hearing Hua Meng say with his own ears that she was all right, and that Jiang Chan had already checked her pulse, did Emperor Jing'an let his heart, which had still been hanging in midair, settle.

But just as Emperor Jing'an's suspended heart had settled, Xiao Jiangzi came running swiftly toward them in a panic.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has been attacked by an assassin."