Hu Xiaotian climbed off Long Xiyue's delicate body, gritted his teeth, and endured the pain as he pulled the dagger from his right shoulder. Qiqi's arm strength was limited, after all; the blade had been stopped by his shoulder blade rather than plunging deeper into his body. His hair was disheveled, his face covered in blood, and his shoulder streaming with it. He pulled up his trousers first, then transferred the dagger from his left hand to his right. In the dim yellow lantern light, he advanced toward Long Xiyue, step by step. He knew his secret had been completely exposed. The only way to preserve it was to silence them forever.
Long Xiyue sat up from the floor, her lovely face flushed crimson. She lowered her beautiful eyes, her long black lashes trembling softly like butterfly wings-not from fear, but from embarrassment.
Seeing her expression, Hu Xiaotian suddenly hesitated. He pressed his lips together and turned his gaze toward Qiqi nearby.
Qiqi's hair was disheveled too. She leaned against a wine barrel, one hand braced on the floor and the other pressed against her chest. Terror glimmered in her bright eyes as she realized what Hu Xiaotian intended to do. "Insolent scoundrel!" she said in a trembling voice. "You dare lay a hand on me?"
Only upon hearing Qiqi's words did Long Xiyue raise her head. The murderous look on Hu Xiaotian's face made her heart sink. She and Qiqi had discovered his secret. Impersonating a eunuch was a crime of deceiving the sovereign; if exposed, it could mean the extermination of his entire clan to the ninth degree of kinship. Hu Xiaotian must have been contemplating killing them. Only now did Long Xiyue begin to feel afraid. She slowly stood and blocked his path, lifting her lovely face.