From cute to empress

Chapter 163: Mystery in the Deep Palace

The night outside the window was dark, like thick, indissoluble ink, oppressive and suffocating. My heart, like the night itself, was filled with unease and worry. The news that the neighboring country's envoys' request for peace was fake and the assassination was real weighed heavily on my heart like a huge rock.

"Zhen Lang, do you think this war can be avoided?" I leaned weakly against the window, looking at the twinkling stars in the distance, muttering to myself.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I am here to protect you." A familiar voice sounded behind me, with the same firmness and warmth as always.

I turned around and saw Zhen Youcai in military uniform. Under the starlight, his eyes were full of fatigue, but it still couldn't hide his reassuring calmness.

"You're here." I gently held his hand, and my cold fingertips slowly warmed up in his palm. "The war at the border is tense, you should stay there."

"Your Majesty's safety is more important than anything else." Zhen Youcai shook my hand, his eyes firm. "I have already arranged everything. This time I came back, I want to catch those villains in one fell swoop!"

In a few days, envoys from neighboring countries will hold a ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven on the outskirts of the city, ostensibly to pray for peace, but in reality to create an opportunity to assassinate me and Zhen Youcai.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready." Doctor Sun and Coroner Zhao came together with confident smiles on their faces.

I nodded and glanced at Zhen Youcai. He was in casual clothes, blending in with the crowd, but his sharp eyes were always alert to the movements around him.

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven began. The envoy from the neighboring country was dressed in gorgeous clothes and muttered something. However, I saw a flash of viciousness in his eyes.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion in the crowd, and a man dressed as a guard rushed towards me with a sharp knife in his hand!

"Protect His Majesty!" The guards around reacted immediately and drew their swords. However, the assassin was agile and fierce. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the guards' defense and came straight towards me!

My heart was in my throat, and I saw that the assassin's sharp blade was about to pierce me. At the critical moment, a black shadow flashed by, and Zhen Youcai appeared in front of me like a god from heaven. The long sword in his hand flashed with a cold light, and forced the assassin back!

"There is an assassin! Protect His Majesty!" Zhen Youcai roared, and the entire altar fell into chaos.

Seeing that his attempt had failed, the assassin turned around and tried to escape, but was stopped by Zhao the coroner and several secret guards who were well prepared.

"Where are you escaping to!" Zhao the coroner snorted coldly, and the silver needle in his hand flew out, hitting the assassin's acupuncture point, and the assassin fell to the ground.

Still in shock, I looked at the chaotic scene before me, and a sudden doubt arose in my heart: this all seemed too smooth...

"Zhen Lang, be careful!" Before I finished speaking, I saw a flash of cold light flying out from the crowd and heading straight for Zhen Youcai!

The cold light flashed so fast that it caught me off guard! I didn't even have time to see what it was. I just felt like my heart was being tightly grasped, almost suffocating.

"Zhen Lang!" I cried out in surprise, but Zhen Youcai reacted extremely quickly, slightly tilting his body to avoid the fatal blow. The cold light flew past his arm, leaving a bloody mark on it.

"Your Majesty!" Zhen Youcai ignored his injuries and struck the hidden weapon with his sword. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was a poisoned hidden weapon!

"You despicable villain!" I was furious. Pointing at the subdued assassin, I shouted, "Tell me! Who sent you?"

The assassin just sneered and kept silent. Zhen Youcai held my hand, signaling me to calm down. He walked up to the assassin and said in a cold voice, "Do you think I can't find out if you don't tell me?"

He took out a token from his arms. When the assassin saw the token, his face turned pale and his eyes were filled with fear.

"You...how do you have this!" The assassin's voice trembled, and he was obviously very afraid of this token.

Zhen Youcai did not answer his question, but threw the token in front of him and sneered: "Now, what else do you have to say?"

The assassin's face turned pale and he hung his head dejectedly. He knew that everything was over for him.

This token is a token of trust from a powerful official of a neighboring country and also serves as irrefutable evidence of his conspiracy to assassinate him.

I looked at the assassin coldly, a chill running through my heart. A powerful official from a neighboring country, ostensibly seeking peace but secretly dispatching assassins, his evil intentions were clear as day!

"Come here! Take this assassin away and interrogate him strictly!" I gave the order and the guards immediately took the assassin away.

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven ended hastily, and Zhen Youcai and I returned to the palace. I couldn't calm down for a long time. The actions of the powerful officials of the neighboring country had completely angered me.

"Zhen Lang, we can't just sit there and wait for death any longer." I looked at Zhen Youcai with a determined glint in my eyes. "It's time to teach our neighbor a lesson!"

Zhen Youcai understood my determination. He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I have already drawn up a plan..."

Zhen Youcai's face was solemn. He walked to the table, spread out a map, and pointed to a valley on it. "Your Majesty, please look here. This place is called 'Broken Soul Valley.' The terrain is steep and difficult to defend. It is the enemy's only route." He paused, a gleam in his eyes. "My plan is to lure the enemy deep into our territory. Once they enter the Valley of Broken Souls, we can use the terrain to our advantage, set up an ambush, and annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

I listened carefully to Zhen Youcai's plan, nodding inwardly. His plan was bold and thorough. If successful, it would inflict heavy damage on the enemy and completely crush the ambitions of our neighboring nation.

"Okay! I'll do as you say!" I decisively approved Zhen Youcai's plan. "I believe in your ability. You will definitely be victorious!"

"I will definitely live up to your Majesty's expectations!" Zhen Youcai knelt on one knee, his eyes full of determination.

To ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, I have decided to personally take charge of the overall situation in the capital. I understand that this battle concerns the fate of the country, and I cannot afford to slack off in the slightest.

I summoned the court's senior officials and explained Zhen Youcai's plan in detail. I also ordered the mobilization of food, fodder, and military equipment to fully support the battle on the front lines. Upon hearing my decision, the officials expressed their support and pledged to devote their utmost efforts to serving the country.

I knew that it would be difficult to defeat the enemy with just my army, so I secretly contacted several countries that were at odds with my neighboring country, promising them huge benefits in the hope that they would send troops to help.

As time passed, my heart grew heavier as the war drew near. I knew this was a huge gamble, one that depended on my kingdom and the safety of my people.

On the eve of Zhen Youcai's march to lead his army, I received a secret letter from him, saying that he had made all the preparations and was only waiting for my order to send troops to attack the rebels.

I held the letter in my hand, feeling a mixture of emotions. Just as I was about to write my reply, a palace maid hurried in, holding a tray with a letter on it.

"Your Majesty, this is..." The palace maid's voice trembled slightly.

"Give it to me." I had a bad feeling in my heart.

I took the envelope and saw a few beautiful words written on it: "Personally from the Empress."

I took a deep breath and slowly opened the envelope. The letter contained only a few words, but it was like a thunderbolt that exploded in my mind.

"Regarding Zhen Youcai, do you really understand him? He approached you, perhaps for other purposes..."

My hand shook violently, and the letter fluttered to the ground. My hand shook violently, and the letter fluttered to the ground. About Zhen Youcai? Do I know him? His determined eyes, his gentle words, and his brave figure fighting bravely on the battlefield flashed through my mind... No, it's impossible! This letter must have been written by someone deliberately to drive a wedge between us!

I tried to calm myself down, carefully recalling every moment I'd spent with Zhen Youcai. He was indeed from a neighboring country, and had fled to our country after being victimized by a treacherous person. Could it be that he really had other motives in approaching me?

No, it won’t! I kept denying my own guesses, but the content of the letter was like a thorn that pierced my heart deeply and made me unable to ignore it.

I picked up the letter and read it over and over again, but I still couldn't figure out who wrote it and what their purpose was. Was they trying to drive a wedge between me and Zhen Youcai, or was they simply trying to warn me?

"Someone come!" I took a deep breath and shouted to the door.

"What does Your Majesty want?" A little palace maid hurried in.

"Go and invite Doctor Sun and Coroner Zhao!" I said in a deep voice.

"Yes." The little palace maid responded and retreated.

I want to find out the whole story of this letter! I want to know who wrote it and what his purpose is!

Time passed by minute by minute, and my heart became more and more anxious as time passed. Finally, Doctor Sun and Coroner Zhao arrived at my bedroom one after another.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant greets you!" The two of them saluted in unison.

"No need to be polite." I waved my hand, signaling them to stand. "Doctor Sun, Coroner Zhao, I have something important to ask you. Please answer truthfully!"

"Your Majesty, please ask. I will tell you everything I know!" The two answered in unison.

I took a deep breath, handed the anonymous letter to Dr. Sun, and asked, "Dr. Sun, take a look at the handwriting on this letter. Is there anything special about it?"

Doctor Sun took the letter, looked at it carefully, put it to the tip of his nose and sniffed it gently, frowning slightly.

"How?" I asked anxiously.

"Your Majesty," Divine Doctor Sun pondered for a moment and said slowly, "The handwriting on this letter..." He paused, raised his head and looked at me, "I seem to have seen the handwriting on this letter somewhere..."