Hearing the words, Ye Zhinan immediately jumped out of bed. Holding a dagger in one hand, she pointed it at the intruder, while using the other to protect her clothes.
"If you don't want to die, get out of here now!"
The person in the darkness stepped closer, gradually revealing a sinister face.
Ye Zhinan looked at that face with increasing disgust. She tightened her grip on the dagger and pointed it at the man's face. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, breaking into a young girl's room in the middle of the night. If this gets out, it won't do your reputation any good, will it?"
"Humph!" Wen Cai let out a cold snort and suddenly grabbed Ye Zhinan's wrist that was holding the dagger. "Then you can try and see who loses their reputation first, you or this Crown Prince?"
With that, he pressed his whole body down on her. Ye Zhinan was greatly startled. She struggled with hands and feet, but how could a weak girl fight against a strong and powerful man?
She really regretted not adding one more dose of poison to him earlier. She had just reduced the dosage, and now it was too late to regret. Seeing that disgusting lips getting closer and closer, her hands and feet were already restrained.
Was she going to give in?
Never!
Thinking this, Ye Zhinan desperately twisted her body and finally broke free from the restraint on her feet. She kicked up high, aiming straight at the man's vitals.
"Humph, you think you can ruin me? You're still too young!" Wen Cai was enraged. He ripped open Ye Zhinan's clothes, revealing the bright red undergarment inside.
"Damn it! What kind of Crown Prince are you? You're just an uneducated coward and a self - assured jerk!" Ye Zhinan shouted angrily, trying to wake up the people outside. Although she knew there was no one outside, there was always a chance!
Slap!
The Crown Prince swung his arm and slapped her across the face. Ye Zhinan's eyes were filled with stars, and a stream of blood immediately filled her mouth.
"Shout louder! Let's see who will come to save you."
"I will!" Before the words faded, the Crown Prince was sent flying.
Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Zhinan's eyes instantly turned red. The next second, tears streamed down her face. "Why did you come so late?"
Qin Yihuai immediately wrapped Ye Zhinan, who was left with only a piece of cloth for modesty, in a quilt. "I'm sorry! Wait a moment. It'll be over soon."
Ye Zhinan tightly grabbed his hand. "What are you going to do? He is the Crown Prince after all. You..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she was startled by Qin Yihuai's appearance.
His face was pale, his clothes were full of wounds, and his deep eyes were bloodshot. She subconsciously pulled her hand away from his and reached for the medicine, but Qin Yihuai shook his head. "I'm fine. Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
With that, he rushed towards the Crown Prince.
"Don't!"
Ye Zhinan panicked. He was the Crown Prince! Qin Yihuai clearly had the intention to kill. His eyes were fierce and emotionless. She couldn't let him ruin his whole life.
Thinking of this, Ye Zhinan also chased after him. But Qin Yihuai's sword was already pointed at the Crown Prince's face. The next second, it was about to pierce in when suddenly a dark figure shouted "No" and blocked in front of the Crown Prince.
"Mother Concubine! Be careful!" The Crown Prince nervously grabbed the person in front of him and tried to pull her away.
Fortunately, Qin Yihuai stopped in time, only cutting off a wisp of Concubine Chen's hair.
Ye Zhinan also rushed over and tightly grabbed Qin Yihuai's hand. "Let's go! Before anyone comes!"
As she said this, she noticed the complex expressions on Qin Yihuai and Concubine Chen's faces.
In Qin Yihuai's eyes when he looked at Concubine Chen, it seemed as if there were a thousand words. There was hatred, resentment, and a trace of indescribable emotion.
Concubine Chen was the same. There was a new emotion in her weather - beaten eyes, an emotion very similar to the one when she looked at the Crown Prince.
"Go? You tried to assassinate the Crown Prince and injured the noble concubine. Neither of you can leave." The Crown Prince snatched the dagger when Ye Zhinan wasn't paying attention and stabbed at Qin Yihuai.
"No!" Concubine Chen shouted and protected Qin Yihuai in front of her, taking the knife blow.
"Mother Concubine, you..." The Crown Prince looked blank. Ye Zhinan pushed him away and immediately tried to stop Concubine Chen's bleeding.
"Fortunately, the wound is not deep. I know you sent the guards away, so please be a good person to the end and let us go. I guarantee I won't say a single word about today's incident." Ye Zhinan whispered while bandaging Concubine Chen's wound.
Concubine Chen nodded silently. She turned to the Crown Prince and said, "You were wrong first today. Don't be so naughty. Let them go."
"Mother Concubine?..."
"Shut up!" Concubine Chen was extremely angry, stopping the Crown Prince's next words. Then she turned to look at Qin Yihuai. All the mixed feelings turned into one sentence: "Once you leave, don't come back!"
"Go? Where are you going?"
Suddenly, a majestic male voice came from outside the door. The outside instantly became brightly lit, illuminating the night and clearly showing everyone present.
"His Majesty has arrived!" The chief eunuch loudly announced at the door. Following the voice, the man who had just spoken walked in.
Everyone was startled and quickly knelt on the ground.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty!"
"Your son pays respects to Your Majesty!"
"Your humble daughter/subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Ye Zhinan lowered her head. She felt the people beside her were trembling slightly. Even Qin Yihuai, who was usually calm in the face of changes, was breathing unevenly.
What kind of day was this night? It was really a night that made people feel as if they were in a dream!
Ye Zhinan took a deep breath. The air above her head felt extremely oppressive.
"Are you the daughter of Minister Ye? I heard you're quite capable."
Ye Zhinan looked up and saw the man standing high above. That imposing manner was innate, which the Crown Prince didn't have.
"Your humble daughter doesn't have any great skills. I just farm the land and treat illnesses. They're just minor skills, not worth mentioning."
Her answer was neither over - humble nor over - assertive, completely ignoring the Crown Prince beside her, who was grinding his teeth in anger.
The emperor laughed. "If you weren't a woman, I would definitely give you an official position."
"So what if I'm a woman? Everyone under the heavens is born of a woman."
"Bold! Don't speak rashly!" The chief eunuch shouted sternly.
But the emperor waved his hand, and the eunuch stepped back and silently put away the rattan stick in his hand. At the same time, Qin Yihuai also concealed his sword.
The emperor glanced at everyone and said calmly, "Good! All of you, get up! The daughter of Minister Ye has done a great job in treating the Crown Prince. Reward her! Qin Yihuai broke into the harem without permission. He shall be executed!"
"Your Majesty!"
Ye Zhinan and Concubine Chen said in unison and knelt on the ground at the same time.
The Crown Prince immediately stood up. "Father, it's getting late. Your son will escort you back to the palace to rest."
With that, he glared at Concubine Chen and supported the emperor's arm, about to leave.
But suddenly there was a commotion outside the door. A guard rushed in with a big knife in his hand. "It's bad! Assassins have broken into the palace!"
The chief eunuch immediately protected the masters and shouted loudly, "Protect the emperor!"
The Crown Prince snatched the knife from the guard's hand and wanted to rush out, but was grabbed by Concubine Chen.
Ye Zhinan looked at the man beside her. Qin Yihuai's eyes were getting darker. She pushed his shoulder. "Be careful!"
Qin Yihuai nodded and replied with a "Be careful!" Then he drew his sword and rushed out.
The remaining people hid in the small room where Concubine Chen and Ye Zhinan lived under the protection of the guards.