"Host, the situation is critical, you must stop Yue Nansang from shielding Yue Beiyang with her body!"
"But shouldn't Yue Beiyang be shielding Yue Nansang now?"
In Qin Jiujiu's view, Yue Beiyang had clearly repelled the black-clothed assassin in front of him, then rushed to Yue Nansang's side, and the sword was clearly aimed at Yue Nansang.
While it was unlikely Yue Beiyang would take a sword for someone, it was even less likely Yue Nansang would shield Yue Beiyang!
But the situation reversed in the next second – the sword aimed at Yue Nansang was deflected by Yue Beiyang's sword, but the black-clothed assassin behind Yue Beiyang suddenly revealed his own sword.
Yue Nansang saw it, but Yue Beiyang didn't have time to react.
"Second Brother!"
This startled cry woke Qin Jiujiu from her daze.
"For the mission, host, you have to go all out!"
If Yue Nansang were to shield Yue Beiyang, the plot would be very difficult to salvage!
The system processed a string of data, and soon Qin Jiujiu rushed in front of Yue Beiyang, positioning herself between him and Yue Nansang.
Before Qin Jiujiu could react, she had already placed herself behind Yue Beiyang. His back was to her, and the sword pierced through Qin Jiujiu from behind. Yue Nansang was stunned.
"Xiao Ru'er!"
It hurt so much!
Qin Jiujiu was first shocked, then gradually felt the intense pain in her body. The pain intensified, making her unable to speak.
"Xiao Ru'er!" Yue Nansang cried out again, already at Xing Ru's side. Yue Beiyang finally turned his head, his gaze falling on Xing Ru's face, then on her wound.
His sword swiftly plunged into the chest of the black-clothed assassin behind Qin Jiujiu.
The black-clothed assassin seemed panicked and, before he could react, was impaled by Yue Beiyang through the heart and collapsed to the ground.
Soon, the black-clothed assassins stopped their assault and retreated en masse.
Qin Jiujiu's body gradually went limp. She had no strength left, and even looking at Yue Nansang, her vision was blurry, unable to see clearly. She could only hear him calling her name.
But he was calling out Xing Ru's name.
Yue Beiyang finally came to his senses and took Qin Jiujiu from Yue Nansang's embrace.
"Thank you, Second Young Master..."
Her consciousness fading, Xing Ru could no longer distinguish the person in front of her.
In her memory, the person in front of her was Xie Jing!
Yue Beiyang picked her up, but paused slightly upon hearing the fragmented words from her lips.
"Second Young Master Xie?"
Was there a surname like Xie in Anzhou?
Yue Beiyang didn't dwell on it. He carried her onto the horse. Qin Jiujiu leaned into his embrace, held from behind, and couldn't help but vent her anger at the system in her mind.
"System! You did this! You heartless, dog system!"
Perhaps the system couldn't stand it anymore, and in the next second, Qin Jiujiu fainted.
In this illusion, their appearances and bodies were identical to their original selves. However, these forms were merely illusions of consciousness; everything in this illusion lacked substance.
Therefore, when Qin Jiujiu fainted, her soul did not float around her body.
The Second Prince's Manor.
"Your Highness, it has been confirmed that the black-clothed assassins who attempted the assassination were sent by Xing Zhan!"
The target was ostensibly the King of Yue, but in reality, it was Yue Beiyang!
Although Qin Jiujiu had already regained consciousness, she didn't open her eyes upon hearing Wu Han's voice. The two seemed to be discussing secrets. If she were to wake up now, they might assume she had been eavesdropping intentionally, and her life could be in danger!
But alas, her acting skills were not high.
Upon seeing the expression on his master's face, Wu Han stopped speaking.
Silence suddenly fell in the room. The two, separated by a screen, had their gazes fixed on Qin Jiujiu behind the screen.
Qin Jiujiu sensed something was amiss and panicked but dared not move.
Yue Beiyang's voice suddenly broke the silence. Qin Jiujiu heard him say, "But why would Xing Ru do that?"
Naturally, by "that," he referred to the act of shielding him with her body!
In the illusion, Xing Ru was timid and shy in front of Yue Beiyang. However, due to the system, Qin Jiujiu's consciousness was constantly awakening, thus subtly influencing Xing Ru, who had not yet regained consciousness.
She was gradually becoming less timid in front of Yue Beiyang!
Yue Beiyang had always believed that Xing Zhan and his daughter were of one mind, unaware of Xing Ru's genuine affection for him.
During Qin Jiujiu's period of unconsciousness, she had received all the plot information about this illusion from the system. Although Xing Ru was merely a minor character in the entire instance, and Yue Beiyang had barely glanced at her from beginning to end, her love for him was poignant...
This young girl, used by her father, was ultimately killed by her own father for Yue Beiyang, yet Yue Beiyang never knew of her feelings for him!
In Yue Beiyang's eyes, there was only Yue Nansang, the radiant princess of Anzhou!
It turned out that when Xing Ru was kidnapped years ago, Xing Zhan never intended to save her. This intelligent girl overheard the truth from the kidnappers, and was eventually thrown into the water.
Xing Zhan arrived late, and she, believing Yue Beiyang had saved her, fell deeply in love with him!
That kind of love, appearing when she thought no one in the world loved her, was never seen in the light...
She even witnessed firsthand Yue Beiyang's suppressed yet intense love for Yue Nansang, a love so profound it consumed her.
"Princess Consort..."
Yue Beiyang's voice came from above her. Qin Jiujiu couldn't help but tremble her eyelids. This minute movement fell into Yue Beiyang's eyes, and a smile flickered across his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Has the Princess Consort not woken yet?"
Wu Han's voice.
Qin Jiujiu had no intention of opening her eyes in front of them. She planned to endure it and wake up after they left, but she didn't expect them not only to stay but to enter!
Yue Beiyang stared at Qin Jiujiu's face, his smile deepening with every glance.
He wanted to see what tricks this woman was playing!
Yue Beiyang leisurely observed Qin Jiujiu's face, his arms crossed, appearing relaxed. Wu Han, however, dared not look at the Princess Consort.
"Wu Han, go fetch the imperial physician! Why hasn't the Princess Consort woken up after so long... Could it be that he is useless? Might as well have him beheaded!"
Yue Beiyang spoke slowly, causing Qin Jiujiu's heart to ripple with a thousand waves.
She truly believed that both Yue Beiyang and Xie Jing were capable of such cruelty!
"Oh? Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
She feigned waking up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, but secretly peeked at Yue Beiyang's expression through her fingers.
What was with that smile on his lips?
Qin Jiujiu felt an inexplicable chill. She sensed Yue Beiyang's smile was somewhat eerie, making her heart flutter with anxiety.
"The Princess Consort has finally woken... I happen to have a matter I wish to consult the Princess Consort about!"
His words were still slow, but they made Qin Jiujiu anxious.
"Who is Second Young Master Xie? The name sounds like someone from outside..."