EBE Chapter 47 Assassin
Chapter 47 Assassin
The Spirit Kingdom, the Illusionary Spirit Garden.
The mansion walls, as radiant as jade, soared into the clouds, magnificent and grand, with red walls like rosy clouds and golden tiles like stars.
The stone lions are exquisitely carved, resembling loyal guardians gazing upon visitors, displaying a solemn and dignified majesty.
The vermilion gate was thick and weathered, shimmering with dazzling golden light, which was mesmerizing.
The mansion's courtyards are arranged in a pleasing and orderly fashion, and the waterfall pool reflects the moonlight, making it seem like a fairyland.
In the middle of the spacious room, there was a curtain, and behind the curtain, a woman was lying on a bench.
She wore a gorgeous purple-red dress, looking like a fairy descended from heaven, with a beautiful face and phoenix eyes, and an extraordinary appearance.
The exquisite embroidery on her red, belted robe resembled twinkling stars in the night sky, showcasing her elegance and innocence.
Whether it was because she had rested enough or was bored, the woman sat up and walked to the table to sit down.
The woman was drawing in the yard, stealing a half-day of leisure from her busy life. It was rare that there wasn't much official business today, so she naturally wanted to take a break... a balance between work and rest.
As she painted, her eyebrows furrowed, and she placed the brush on the table.
For some reason, she felt uneasy all day, as if something big was about to happen.
"Reporting, Your Majesty, Qin Lingxing pays her respects. She is outside the door," the maid said, kneeling.
"Let her in."
"Yes, Your Majesty." After saying that, the maid withdrew.
The Empress was still writing and drawing on the table, and she didn't even raise her head once from the moment the maid entered until she left.
Qin Lingxing: "Greetings, Empress."
Qin Lingxing then entered, knelt on one knee, and said.
Empress: "No need for formalities, Qin Lingxing. What do you have to report?"
Qin Lingxing: "Your Majesty, last night two assassins went to Shangjun City to assassinate the Minister of Rites, but fortunately the Minister of Rites was protected by many people."
Upon hearing this, the Empress angrily retorted:
"What's going on? You didn't even know there were assassins in Shangjun City? What am I doing keeping you around for nothing?"
Qin Lingxing: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am willing to accept punishment for my sins."
"Hmph, the sin of appeasing anger? Is there no other punishment besides these sins of appeasing anger?"
"Besides causing me so much trouble, what else can you do? You're all useless idiots."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Qin Lingxing was so frightened that she dared not move.
The Empress continued, "Was the Minister of Rites injured?"
"Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites only suffered minor injuries and is otherwise unharmed."
"Have you found out the identities of those two assassins?"
Qin Lingxing: "Your Majesty, we have not yet ascertained the identities of those two assassins."
However, according to the guards, these two assassins were agile and highly skilled in martial arts, likely among Qin's top assassins.
"Thinking about it, it makes sense. Apart from the shadows of Qin, the Shadow Palace of Xia Dynasty is separated from our Ling Kingdom by a Si Dynasty, so they probably wouldn't go all the way to assassinate us."
From this perspective, it seems the Qin state is determined to assassinate the Minister of Rites.
Qin Lingxing: "Empress, how should we respond?"
"Send a message by carrier pigeon to strengthen the protection of the Minister of Rites, and at the same time send people to investigate the identities of these two assassins and the mastermind behind them."
Qin Lingxing: "Yes, Empress."
"In addition, inform the Minister of Rites to refrain from going out recently, and to allow him to focus on recovering from his injuries and avoid overexertion."
"If there's anything to be done, let your subordinates do it. Don't act like you can't do without him. Try to work from the residence as much as possible, to avoid another assassination attempt."
"Yes, Empress."
"Well, let's go down."
"Subordinates retire."
The Empress sat in her chair, her brows furrowed, lost in thought.
The report from her subordinates had just shocked and angered her; an assassin had attempted to kill the Minister of Rites, and it was very likely the work of the Qin state's shadow forces.
Ling Kingdom has three neighbors: Qin Kingdom in the south, which is the largest; Si Dynasty in the northwest, which is the smallest but still larger than Ling Kingdom; and Gu Xuan Dynasty in the north, which has always been a thorn in her side.
Relations between the four countries have been tense, with frequent border clashes.
This assassination attempt left her feeling deeply helpless about Qin's intentions.
She knew in her heart that the shadow of Qin was an extremely mysterious and powerful force.
Their appearance meant that the Qin state might no longer be satisfied with the status quo and wanted to take more radical actions. This made her feel unprecedented pressure and challenges.
She began to think of ways to deal with it.
First, she must strengthen security measures within the court to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.
Secondly, she needed to strengthen alliances with other countries to jointly counter the threat from Qin.
Finally, she must persevere in protecting the Ling Kingdom left behind by her brother, and also safeguard the people of the five cities within the Ling Kingdom.
She picked up a pen and paper and began to write and draw. She didn't know how much time had passed before she put down the pen and sighed.
She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed into the distance.
She knew that the road ahead was full of difficulties and obstacles, but she also firmly believed that as long as she and her people were united, they would be able to overcome the difficulties and safeguard the security and dignity of the country.
The maidservant brought in the food.
"Your Majesty, it's time for your meal. The food has been served," the maid said softly.
The Empress nodded and walked over.
On the table were simply a bowl of rice, a plate of vegetables and meat, and a bowl of soup—this was her daily diet.
For the sake of the people of Ling Kingdom, the Empress saved as much as she could and used as much as she could. As long as the people were not starving, she was fine with eating only simple home-cooked meals.
As long as they can eat their fill, they never care whether the food is plentiful or not.
After finishing their meal and resting for less than fifteen minutes, the maid came in again to report.
"Your Majesty, Hua Lingxing has come to pay his respects and is waiting outside the gate."
"Let her in."
"Yes."
Hua Lingxing hurriedly entered the palace, bowed to the Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, Hua Lingxing has sent a message by carrier pigeon."
The Empress asked eagerly, "What did the letter say?"
Hua Lingxing unfolded the letter and read aloud: "Your Majesty, Hua Lingxing respectfully presents this letter."
After more than a year of treatment by Lin Xiaoya from Sujia Village, my congenital intestinal paralysis has been cured.
Although he recovered physically, he lost all his martial arts skills due to the treatment.
"What? Hua Lingxing has lost all her martial arts skills?" The Empress suddenly stood up and shouted.
Then, realizing he had been a bit out of line, he awkwardly straightened his clothes and said, "Please continue."
Hua Lingxing answered "yes" and continued speaking.
"Fortunately, with Lin Xiaoya's consent, she taught me a divine skill, and now my internal strength has returned to the middle level."
The Empress's face lit up with joy upon hearing that Hua Lingxing had recovered.
"Good, good, that's wonderful! Hua Lingxing has finally recovered her health."
"Lin Xiaoya actually passed on her divine skills? In just half a year, she was able to cultivate back to the Middle Harmony Realm?" The Empress muttered to herself.
Hua Lingxing comforted her, "Empress, it's already a great blessing that Hua Lingxing has recovered."
Moreover, she has already mastered a divine skill, and her internal strength has recovered to some extent. I believe she will surely regain her former glory in the future.”
The Empress nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes. A faint smile appeared on her delicate face as she spoke softly.
"What you say is absolutely right. We should make arrangements for this matter as soon as possible."
"Immediately issue my decree: Hua Lingxing must remain in Su Family Village. She must not be allowed to leave at will. Simply ensure she causes no trouble for Su Family Village."
"Alas, she has lived in Sujia Village for a long time. If she were to leave suddenly now, it would inevitably arouse a lot of suspicion and doubt. We must act cautiously."
"First, protect Su Family Village so she can cultivate there in peace and improve her strength."
The Empress sighed softly, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness.
Hua Lingxing stood respectfully to one side, listening attentively to the Empress's instructions, his expression serious and focused. He solemnly clasped his hands in a salute and said:
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your orders and do my utmost to protect Su Family Village and Flower Spirit Star."
At this moment, the Empress cast her gaze into the distance, as if she could see a distant place through the void. She narrowed her eyes slightly, lost in thought.
"That Lin Xiaoya is truly astonishing, possessing such superb medical skills."
Even the old fogies of Medicine King Valley, who considered themselves extraordinary, were helpless against this severed meridian, yet it was easily cured by a little girl who was barely ten years old. It was truly fascinating.
She gently shook her head, a look of appreciation on her face.
"Lin Xiaoya is indeed extraordinary, but why didn't I sense her internal energy three years ago?"
Could it be that she hadn't even begun cultivating yet? Perhaps there are many unknown secrets hidden within this.
The Empress waved her hand, indicating that Hua Lingxing could leave, her voice tinged with weariness.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, go ahead and get busy."
Hua Lingxing bowed again, turned and left, leaving the Empress alone by the window, gazing quietly at the distant sky.
A complex light flickered in her eyes, as if she were lost in thought, perhaps burdened by her longing for Hua Lingxing, or perhaps by anxieties about the future...