Not long after she lowered the bed curtains, the guards outside burst through the door. "Young Madam?"
None of them rushed in immediately. After all, men and women should keep their distance. Perhaps Qin Keqing had simply been sleeping too deeply to hear them. If they rushed over and saw anything they should not see on their mistress's body, they would be in serious trouble.
But with such a huge commotion from the door being forced open, even the deepest sleeper should have awakened. If Qin Keqing still did not respond, then something had clearly happened.
Seeing the gauze curtains stir but hearing no reply for a long while, the guards exchanged glances. A series of crisp draws rang out as they all unsheathed their weapons.
"You're so noisy! Are you going to let anyone sleep?" Just then, Qin Keqing's annoyed voice suddenly came from the bed. A slender jade hand lifted the gauze curtain, and Qin Keqing emerged, her clothes somewhat disheveled and her eyes filled with irritation.
"This subordinate has been presumptuous." The lead guard hurriedly bowed in apology and explained that an assassin had caused trouble in the western residence. He could naturally see that Qin Keqing was not under any coercion. After all, she had climbed down from the bed openly and now stood before him, with no one within ten feet of her.
"Highest alert?" Qin Keqing was clearly startled as well, but she quickly recovered and waved the guards away. "What does an assassin in the western residence have to do with us? Leave. I need to rest."
"Yes!" The captain hurriedly led the group out at a trot. As he closed the door for her, he could not help reminding her, "Young Madam, please do not leave the residence during this time."
Qin