ASTRP -Chapter 233 Assassination

She discovered that although Xi Liyue was younger than herself, she was far stronger—by many times.

Sigh…

Cheng Yu let out a long breath.

“Then I… really should go over first.”

“Go ahead. Shan Yue will arrange a room for you. Don’t worry.”

After Cheng Yu left, the Prince said, “Luckily you didn’t say to send Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt back.”

“The Regent and the Princess Consort can’t leave.”

“They’re so strong. If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have survived until now.”

“Oh? So your husband is basically useless?”

“How is he useless?”

Xi Liyue looped her arm through his.

“You protect me, you love me. More importantly… I love you too.”

The Prince chuckled upon hearing this.

“That answer… I’m satisfied.”

Saying that, he took her hand and kissed it.

“I love you too…”

At night, Xi Liyue and the Prince stayed in their room.

During the day, they had arranged every servant’s room to look as if someone was sleeping inside.

But in reality, this entire princess residence only had the two of them.

The Emperor always had a squad of shadow guards around him.

They were his most loyal followers.

Killing people was their most common task.

After night fell, the Prince and Xi Liyue sat on the bed.

To make everything look real, they had even changed into sleeping undergarments.

The Prince held her hand, looking at it again and again.

“Liyue, your skin is so smooth… I can never get enough of looking at it.”

Xi Liyue laughed softly.

“When I get old, you’ll think I’m not so beautiful anymore and start disliking me.”

The Prince wrapped his arms around her.

“When you grow old, I’ll be even older.”

Xi Liyue still had some lingering fear of back pain.

“Then, Your Highness, let’s agree—neither of us is allowed to dislike the other in the future.”

“Alright. I just worry you’ll be the one to dislike me first.”

The Prince flipped over and pinned her gently on the bed, kissing her forehead.

Seeing him so close, Xi Liyue still felt a bit shy.

She turned her face away.

“Your Highness… w-what are you doing?”

The Prince pinched her waist lightly.

Her body trembled.

“You don’t mean… right now…”

“I’m actually a bit tempted.”

Xi Liyue slapped his hand.

“Behave yourself!”

The Prince simply hugged her tighter and buried his head at her neck, rubbing slightly.

“You’re my wife. Why should I behave myself?”

“Then aren’t you the same as a stranger?”

His breath tickled her neck.

But she had to admit, having him beside her felt extremely reassuring.

If she were like other noblewomen, waiting alone in an estate, she would probably be terrified right now.

Let alone sleep—she would be restless all night.

“Your Highness, after tonight is over and we reach your Imperial Uncle’s residence, you can do whatever you want…”

The Prince sighed, as if he hadn’t heard her.

Instead he said, “If this rebellion against imperial power fails… what do we do then?”

“We’ll… lose our heads. The whole family will be finished.”

He said it casually.

But then he realized Xi Liyue was scared.

Although she was usually timid, this level of fear was rare for her.

He quickly pulled her closer and stroked her hair.

“It’s fine. We will succeed… don’t forget, my Imperial Uncle is there!”

“And most importantly… you are someone I, the Prince, have chosen.”

“If anything really happens, I’ll storm the execution ground.”

“If you’re going to die, I’ll go beat up the King of Hell.”

“…”

Xi Liyue couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thank you…”

“We’re already husband and wife. Why are you thanking me?”

Just then, they both heard a sound.

Extremely faint footsteps—definitely a trained expert.

Even the Prince wasn’t entirely sure.

He immediately sat up.

The door was kicked open, and several men in black rushed in.

Xi Liyue and the Prince didn’t move. The men quickly reached them, pressing blades against their necks.

So this was the assassination?

That made things a bit troublesome.

One of the men pulled out a pill from his chest.

“Princess, do you know who we are?”

Xi Liyue responded calmly.

“You are the Emperor’s shadow guards… the ones who only obey him. I know.”

“I just don’t know… what I did to deserve your visit?”

“Princess, you think too highly of yourself. The Emperor is not dead yet.”

Xi Liyue pursed her lips, and the man continued:

“As long as the Emperor lives, he holds absolute authority.”

“As long as you are a princess, you cannot defy him.”

“I… when did I defy the Emperor?!”

Xi Liyue acted impulsively, trying to stand up, but the blade pressed closer to her neck.

The Prince quickly held her.

“Don’t hurt her…”

He also pretended to be afraid.

“The Emperor wants to campaign north and south—that’s for the nation.”

“The Emperor wants to send you to the Aroro Kingdom—that’s because he finds you inconvenient. Why don’t you understand?”

He forced the pill into Xi Liyue’s mouth.

But at that moment, she wasn’t afraid anymore.

Because Feng Jingge had already given her a Cleansing Detox Pill beforehand.

That pill made her immune to most poisons; anything strong would only make her feel drunk.

“The Emperor wants you to forget everything… like when you were a child.”

“Childhood?”

“Too much to say. You won’t remember anyway.”

Then they also forced a pill into the Prince’s mouth.

Now Xi Liyue became slightly anxious—because the Prince hadn’t taken the antidote.

But after confirming there was nothing left in their mouths, the men quickly left.

Is that it?

No.

They poured oil outside… and set the place on fire.

The Prince pressed his throat and spat out the pill.

“Wow, Your Highness, you’re amazing.”

He snorted proudly.

“I’m a martial artist. If I can’t handle this little trick, I’d be useless.”

“Then teach me.”

“Don’t learn it. It takes repeated pain to master it.”

Xi Liyue tried to force herself to vomit it out, but nothing came.

“I took the antidote from the Princess Consort.”

“She said that when it meets poison, it will make you feel drunk…”

The Prince immediately said, “Don’t worry. I’m here. I’ll protect you.”

“But… giving pills then setting fire—I don’t understand what that damned Emperor is trying to do.”

Xi Liyue patted his shoulder.

“Heh… I know.”

“The Emperor just wants psychological satisfaction.”

“Back then, when he harmed my Third Imperial Uncle… he was exactly like this. On one hand giving hope to the dying, and then crushing it with despair.”

She sneered.

“I didn’t understand it before. Now I do.”

“He’s mentally twisted.”

“He enjoys things others find terrifying and disgusting.”

“Just like those ridiculous nobles—no one likes seeing someone covered in injuries and still finds it entertaining.”