A gust of gloomy wind swept by. Beneath the dark green pagoda tree with its umbrella - like branches and extremely dense leaves, white mist suddenly emerged from somewhere. Mixed within the white mist were some flickering, glowing green ghostly flames.
Du Gu Luan Yue let out a shrill scream and grabbed Mu Rong Min's arm, feigning a delicate and timid look. "Your Majesty, let's go. There are ghosts here. I'm scared!"
Mu Rong Min stared fixedly ahead and said coldly, "Where are the imperial guards? Why aren't they here yet!"
Eunuch Ying Xi got up from the ground, trembling with fear. "Your Majesty, the imperial guards are all stationed at the temple entrances and exits. You said just now that you didn't want them to come."
"Prince Yuzhang is also in charge of the patrol. Right now, only Your Majesty and the Empress are here. None of the personal attendants have followed."
Mu Rong Min said, "Go and mobilize the troops!"
Du Gu Luan Yue still clung tightly to Mu Rong Min's arm, her voice quivering with fear. "Your Majesty, in this sacred Buddhist place, how could there be ghosts? Is it because the resentment is too great? Let's leave quickly. This ghost must be here for revenge."
Mu Rong Min snorted. "I am the Son of Heaven. I fear neither gods nor ghosts!"
He faced the blank stele directly and shouted, "Who is pretending to be a ghost up ahead? I won't believe in such things!"
The blank stele looked eerie and ethereal in the hazy mist. The glowing green ghostly flames around it emitted a dim light and gradually drifted towards Mu Rong Min, becoming more and more intense.
Du Gu Luan Yue had been observing Mu Rong Min carefully. Although he looked angry, his lips had turned a bit pale, indicating that the blank stele had a great impact on his mood.
"Your Majesty, let's go. There are gods three feet above our heads. What if it is really entangled with Your Majesty? For the sake of safety, let's retreat."
Du Gu Luan Yue tried to persuade him on one side. But the more she said, the more reluctant Mu Rong Min was to leave.
Mu Rong Min stepped forward and shouted fiercely at the blank stele in front of him. "Lu Wanyin, I'm not afraid of you. When you were alive, you were mine, and even after you died, you're still my ghost.
When you were alive, you were firmly in my control. After you died, you're still suppressed under this Buddhist temple.
I won't let you reincarnate. I want you to be a ghost for generations and stay in the imperial city forever. You'll never be able to return to Jinyang City!"
The white mist became even denser. From the tomb, there came the sad and shrill laughter of a woman, each sound more terrifying than the last.
Du Gu Luan Yue was startled when she heard these words. She didn't expect it to be a debt of love.
She knew nothing about these things. It was Mu Rong Min who wanted to come to Fuyue Temple this time.
Mu Rong Min narrowed his gloomy and slippery eyes, with a dangerous glint in them. "Lu Wanyin, even if you turn into a fierce ghost, I'm not afraid of you!"
The person hiding behind the pagoda tree was enraged to the extreme after hearing Mu Rong Min's arrogant words.
A short and thin arrow shot out from the mist towards Mu Rong Min's chest, aiming straight at his vital point.
Just as the imperial guards arrived, Du Gu Luan Yue quickly pushed Mu Rong Min away and used her own body to block the arrow. The arrow firmly pierced into her chest, and blood gushed out. "Your Majesty... be careful..."
After the arrow was shot, Huo Wei's face darkened.
Beside him stood the woman who had been pretending to be a ghost just now. This woman could imitate various voices. She was Su Rou, who served Du Gu Luan Yue. She used to be a famous courtesan and singer.
Huo Wei looked at the bow and arrow in his hand and stared intently at her. "Tell me honestly, Your Highness. Does the Empress have anything to block the arrow?"
Su Rou frowned and quickly pulled Huo Wei out through a small path.
Su Rou took the special bow and arrow from Huo Wei's hand and said with a sad expression. "Your Highness, the treasures the Empress brought from Southern Chu, the Nine - Lives Golden Elixir and the belt made of celestial silk, have all been given to you. Where could she get something to block the arrow?"
Huo Wei's mind went blank. When he heard Mu Rong Min mention Lu Wanyin's name and say those arrogant words, he couldn't hold back anymore. He even wanted to kill Mu Rong Min without hesitation!
But he still endured. If he killed Mu Rong Min like this, the blood case of the Xie family would forever remain an unjust one. Mu Rong Min would be just an assassinated emperor, not a fatuous one who had framed loyal officials.
He followed Du Gu Luan Yue's instructions and shot the arrow. But after the arrow was shot, Huo Wei felt something was wrong.
If Du Gu Luan Yue had something to block the arrow, why would she give him the special bow and arrow? And she never told him that she was going to block the arrow. It was obvious that she had lied to him.
His face turned deathly pale, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged. He growled, "Is Du Gu Luan Yue crazy?"
Su Rou's eyes were red. She shook her head helplessly. "There's nothing even the aunt can do to stop what the Empress wants to do. I have no way out.
Your Highness, according to the second step of the plan, you should now bypass the small path and rush out with the imperial guards to protect the safety of His Majesty and the Empress."
As Huo Wei walked, his heart was breaking. His wrists were trembling.
Du Gu Luan Yue knew that he could identify the direction by sound and that he was extremely accurate in archery, so she asked him to shoot the arrow from the mist.
Although he was somewhat confident, if he made a mistake, Du Gu Luan Yue would lose her life.
Du Gu Luan Yue fell to the ground. Mu Rong Min was startled and pressed his hand on her chest where the blood was gushing out. "Empress, Empress, don't fall asleep!"
At this moment, Mu Rong Min's heart was shaken.
Looking at this young empress who had come from Southern Chu to Northern Yan from a long - distance, risking her life for him, while he had never truly treated her well and had always been scheming against her country.
At this moment, Mu Rong Min really felt a bit uncomfortable.
Huo Wei rushed over with his troops and immediately sealed off the area.
His blood - red eyes fell on Du Gu Luan Yue. Most of her light - colored dress had already turned red.
His blood seemed to stop flowing at this moment. He was both angry and regretful. He had just trusted Du Gu Luan Yue's words too much.
If he had thought for a while longer, she wouldn't have taken such a risk.
Du Gu Luan Yue was weak. She gave him a faint smile and then fainted.
Mu Rong Min picked up her body and headed towards the wing - room. After walking a few steps, he started to gasp. After all, he was old and it was a bit strenuous for him.
Huo Wei immediately stepped forward. "Father, let your son carry the Empress there. Your son is a martial artist and has great strength."
Mu Rong Min gasped and handed Du Gu Luan Yue to Huo Wei. Huo Wei turned around and walked away. After a few steps, he left Mu Rong Min behind. He gritted his teeth and said, "Du Gu Luan Yue, what's the difference between you and a madman? If you dare to die, just try. If you die, I'll attack Southern Chu!"
Du Gu Luan Yue struggled to open her eyes. The tears in her eyes glistened. "I know you won't."
She looked at Huo Wei with red - rimmed eyes and said in a sad voice, "Don't be anxious. The arrowhead is special and very small. I... I didn't tell you because I was afraid you wouldn't agree."
Huo Wei kicked open the door of the wing - room. "Someone, bring the medicine. Stop the bleeding first!"