At my residence

“Someone, call for the physician” Shen Qing orders as I shook my head no when he sets me down on my bed.

“Don’t. Go and fetch me the medicine kit from the box over there” I pointed as A’Li knew what I was asking for. She automatically went to grab the box of medicine that I’ve been saving ever since I’ve left Western Liang. She opens the box for me as I ordered her to follow my instructions.

“Send everyone out and don’t mention that I got poisoned or else I’m hanging everyone in this room who leaks out the situation” I demanded as the maids all nod before they left.

“Crown Prince Yan, I got this handle. You can go and rest” A’Li said.

“No, I’m not leaving Xiang Yun”

“I’m not dying yet, so don’t worry. I’m not going to let Consort Xue take my place so easily” I said, weakly mixing the medicine by myself.

“It’s not a time to joke around about incidents like this” Shen Qing said, furious by my statement.

“You should leave. You being in this room makes me feel like I’m dying faster” I coldly turn away from him.

He glares at me about to say something, but stood up and left the room.

“Crown Princess, do you have any idea who could be behind this?” A’Li asks, helped me mixed the medicine.

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m suspecting someone” I said as I tried to sit more comfortably, “Who else knew that we went out of the palace?” I add.

“No one. I didn’t tell anyone. Is Crown Princess assuming that the person who poisoned you is from inside the palace?”

“Yes, but I can’t point fingers without evidence. Have you looked into the poison gift regarding Consort Xue?”

“I did. The palace maids all claimed to not know anything”

“They’re hiding it then or someone bribed them not to speak” I said as A’Li finishes the medicine. I immediately ate the medicine and drank a cup of tea after it. As soon as I felt more relaxed, A’Li left me alone to rest.

At Midnight

I woke up to the sound of clatters on the rooftop making me grab my outer layer clothing before I stepped outside of my bedroom. Opening the screened doors, I saw a black figure jump on to the rooftop of Crown Prince Yan’s residence. I glanced around before I moved and rush my way to his residence.

Safely and strangely not seeing any bodyguards on guard, I quietly opened Crown Prince Yan’s screened door to enter his bedroom. I look around, saw him still deep in his sleep as I approached him. I softly waved my hand in front of his face and suddenly he grabs my wrist. Startled me. Quickly, I fell beside him as an arrow flew bypass us piercing the wall. Both of our eyes wide and alert as we briefly stared at the wall. I glance over to him, knew someone came to assassin him in his sleep. He reaches over to touch the arrow as I stopped him,

“Don’t touch it. We don’t know if it’s poisoned” which made him not wanting to remove the arrow.

“What are you doing in here anyway?” he questions me, suspected that I was behind the attempt to murder him.

“Besides questioning me, you should get moving because the assassin is probably still here” I tried to sit up, but he rolls on top of me while trapping me to the mattress.

“What are you doing?” I ask, hit his chest with my fist. He grasps my fist and pinned it to the side and did the same to my other hand that tried to punch him.

“Where is it?”

“Where is what?”

“Still pretending, huh?” he let’s goes of my hand and rapidly searched my body for any hidden weapon.

“Yan Shen Qing!” I raised my voice as I tried to defend myself, but it was useless. He stops when he thoroughly searched me, who found no weapons on me.

“Satisfied now?” I ask, breathless.

“So you’re-”

“Of course not!” I said, roughly pushed him off of me as I sat up. At the same time, the black figure strikes against us.

“Watch out!” I shouted, kicked him completely off the bed as the assassin’s sword deeply stabs into my left shoulder. His eyes expand as if he wasn’t planning to hurt me. Noticing his unawareness, I took the chance to strike him on the chest with my palm attack taught by A’Li. He yanks the sword out of me as he jerks back from the blow while Shen Qing got up to attack him. The assassin avoided Shen Qing and jumped out of the window escaping as Shen Qing’s bodyguards entered at the same time.

“Crown Prince, sorry to have not made it in time to capture the assassin; is the Crown Prince alright?” all of this guards bowed on their knees.

“Go and capture him right now! Make sure he doesn’t escape the palace walls” Shen Qing demands as he slips on his outer robe.  A’Li rapidly made her way inside and immediately sat beside me, noticed that I’ve been hurt.

“Crown Princess” A’Li took out her handkerchief and wrapped it over my wound to stop the bleeding. Shen Qing glances over for a brief second as our eyes met, but he broke the eye contact when he left without saying anything, showing no interest to ask whether I’m fine.

“Someone get the physician!” A’Li ordered the maids as one of them nods before leaving.