The next day.
Lin Qinghe made full preparations to head to the hot spring pool. The hot spring pool was built outdoors, a spacious circular pool, divided in the middle by wooden planks.
But these wooden planks...
Lin Qinghe's mouth twitched violently. She didn't dare to look back at You Rong's expression, and at the same time, she cursed Wang Jiang inwardly.
It must have been Wang Jiang acting on his own initiative! Thinking she wanted to do something to You Rong, he made the wooden planks in the middle so low. After entering the water, one could still see the upper body. What was the point of these planks?
But at this point, she had to go down, bracing herself. She couldn't let the plan she had meticulously devised for several days go to waste!
Lin Qinghe turned and gave You Rong an embarrassed smile, "Well... the steam from the hot spring pool is thick, and it's hard to see clearly... please don't mind. You can soak on that side. They say this hot spring water can relieve fatigue and is very beneficial for the body!"
You Rong's expression was indifferent, showing no particular emotion. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Seeing You Rong walk to the other side and step into the hot spring pool wearing his outer clothes, Lin Qinghe secretly glanced over and quickly averted her gaze, fearing that even a moment's delay would make You Rong suspect she had other intentions.
Lin Qinghe naturally also entered the pool wearing clothes. As her body sank into the water, the warm spring water made her sigh with comfort.
If it weren't for the matter at hand, how nice it would be to just soak in the hot spring comfortably. It was a shame today.
You Rong sat in the hot spring pool, his gaze slightly cold. He stared at Lin Qinghe opposite him. He had expected her to find an excuse to come over, but to his surprise, she was facing away from him, soaking by the edge of the pool. She hadn't looked at him at all from beginning to end, and hadn't even spoken to him.
You Rong felt a sense of doubt. Could it be that she genuinely just wanted him to accompany her for a few days' stay at the temporary palace, with no other intentions?
Lin Qinghe soaked in the hot spring pool, growing impatient as there was still no movement around them.
This shouldn't be the case. Why hadn't Marquis Pingyang's men made their move yet?
Could it be that only half of the hidden guards had been withdrawn, making them hesitant to act?
Should she order the remaining guards to withdraw? Otherwise, when You Rong wanted to leave, wouldn't her trip be in vain?
Just as Lin Qinghe was about to speak, a sudden cry of alarm from the outer guards rang out: "Assassin! Protect the Emperor! Hurry and protect His Majesty!"
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up. She abruptly stood up from the hot spring pool and instinctively moved towards You Rong. However, You Rong was faster. With a grave expression, he had already gotten out of the water and was by her side.
You Rong, dripping wet, reached out and pulled up Lin Qinghe, who was still in the hot spring pool, and said sternly, "Your Majesty, be careful! Stay behind me!"
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered, and she nodded heavily, "Alright!"
Of course, she had to stay close to You Rong. Otherwise, how could she find an opportunity to stage a heroic rescue to increase her progress bar?
The sounds of hidden guards fighting with assassins could be heard outside. You Rong intended to escort Lin Qinghe away, but after only a few steps, more than ten men in black rushed in, surrounding them both.
You Rong's brows furrowed, his eyes sharp as he stared at them, and he sternly bellowed, "Who are you?! How dare you attempt to assassinate His Majesty!"
The men in black did not speak. They exchanged glances and charged forward with their swords.
In a moment of urgency, You Rong pushed Lin Qinghe back, kicked the leader's sword away with one foot, quickly snatched his long sword, and with a turn of his wrist, killed the leader.
Seeing this, the other assassins intensified their attacks. Every move was aimed at vital points, as if determined to take You Rong's life.
You Rong's martial arts were decent, but his left hand had been injured, rendering it almost useless. The assassins quickly noticed his weakness and deliberately attacked his left hand, causing You Rong to struggle to defend himself and fall into a disadvantageous position.
Lin Qinghe was protected behind You Rong. Her heart was filled with anxiety, and her gaze darted around. Finally, she spotted someone holding a bow and arrow by the wall.
These were the hidden guards she had arranged.
You Rong's shoulder was cut. He stumbled back a step. Three assassins lunged directly at him. He quickly stabilized himself, dodged, and with a flip of his long sword, killed all three.
The next moment, You Rong heard Lin Qinghe's panicked cry, "You Rong! Be careful!"
Lin Qinghe lunged from behind and hugged You Rong. He heard her muffled groan and looked back, his pupils constricting.
Lin Qinghe had pounced to block an arrow for him!
Lin Qinghe's small face turned pale from the pain, and her body felt weak as she began to fall backward. You Rong's heart tightened. He quickly turned and caught her, "Your Majesty!"
Lin Qinghe lay in You Rong's arms, clutching her wounded arm. Her white clothes were stained red with the blood that was gushing out. You Rong held her stiffly, "Your Majesty! You..."
Lin Qinghe raised her eyes and saw an assassin raising his sword to stab You Rong. Her heart leaped, and just as she was about to shout a warning, Wang Jiang arrived with the hidden guards. One of the guards quickly dealt with the assassin.
Wang Jiang anxiously shouted, "Quick! Capture these assassins! Not a single one must escape! Hurry!"
Seeing that the situation was turning against them, the men in black turned to flee, but it was too late. The hot spring area, inside and out, was surrounded by hidden guards. They had no escape. Within a quarter of an hour, all the men in black were captured.
Seeing that all the black-clothed men were apprehended, Lin Qinghe secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She no longer had to worry about being accidentally injured herself or fearing that she might unintentionally let the black-clothed men harm You Rong.
With her worries gone, Lin Qinghe fully devoted herself to her performance. She endured the pain, tugged at You Rong's sleeve, and anxiously asked, "You Rong... are you... are you alright? Did they injure you?"
You Rong clenched his fist slightly. "Your Majesty, this subject is fine. You are injured!"
Lin Qinghe pulled at the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile. "It's good that you're alright, good that you're alright... As long as you're alright, that's all that matters..."
After saying this, Lin Qinghe closed her eyes and, at the opportune moment, fainted.
After Lin Qinghe closed her eyes, You Rong's heart inexplicably tightened. His expression became flustered, and he urgently called out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
No matter how much You Rong called out, Lin Qinghe was professional. Enduring the pain, she showed no reaction, as if she had truly fainted.
You Rong gritted his teeth, quickly dropped his long sword, and disregarding the wound on his shoulder, picked up Lin Qinghe and rushed towards Wang Jiang, who was still directing the hidden guards. He shouted sternly, "Quick! His Majesty is injured! Send for the imperial physician! Hurry!"
Wang Jiang turned and saw Lin Qinghe had fainted, her sleeve still covered in blood. He was so terrified that he felt his soul would fly out of his body. He hastily yelled, "Quick! Send for the imperial physician! Send for the imperial physician!"
A hidden guard ran over with Imperial Physician Zhang. "We're coming! Imperial Physician Zhang is here!"
Imperial Physician Zhang was quickly brought to the entrance of the sleeping quarters and put down, only to be immediately pulled to the bedside by You Rong. Without even a moment to catch his breath, You Rong urged, "Imperial Physician Zhang, His Majesty has been shot. The arrowhead should be broken off in the flesh, and we don't yet know if it's poisoned! Please treat His Majesty quickly!"
"Yes... yes, this subordinate will treat His Majesty now. Prime Minister You and others, please step out first."
You Rong's brows were tightly knitted. He took a deep look at Lin Qinghe, then turned and left.
As soon as You Rong went out, Lin Qinghe heard his cold voice asking, "Eunuch Wang, where are the assassins who were captured just now?!"
At the same time, the system's notification chimed: "Progress bar increased by 5%, total progress bar at 6%."