The Prefect of Fengtian, who had just been holding himself with dignity, quickly approached the young man. He bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, why have you alighted from the carriage yourself? Didn't you say you would leave it to this subordinate to handle?"
Xie Jinglan waved his hand and stepped forward, looking at the man in black within the courtyard. "You cannot escape."
The man in black tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand.
Ji Zizhao could sense the man's increasingly erratic breathing. She tensed her body, trying to avoid the sharp blade from further scraping her wound. As she looked up, her gaze met a pair of deep, calm eyes not far away.
Though the eyes appeared gentle and serene, they held an unfathomable depth.
Xie Jinglan noticed Ji Zizhao's gaze and gave her a slight nod, signaling her not to be afraid.
Ji Zizhao calmly averted her eyes and clutched her hand beneath her sleeve. Su Dan Novel Network.
She had never grown accustomed to relying on anyone.
Rather than trusting the aid of others, she believed more in her own strength.
Xie Jinglan knew he had likely been dismissed, but he didn't mind. He turned his attention back to the man in black and said, "You are already injured. Even if you escape this place, you won't escape Yu Lin. It would be faster to surrender now."
The man in black stiffened, then relaxed. "The task I set out to accomplish is done. What does it matter if I die? I only wish for my intentions to be understood, and then I can die without regret."
With that, the man in black twisted the dagger in his hand.
Ji Zizhao could clearly sense the assassin's killing intent gradually fading.
It was evident he intended to take his own life.
But!
At that moment, the Prefect of Fengtian suddenly shouted, "Capture the assassin and protect the Fourth Prince!"
Instantly, the poised imperial guards rushed towards the man in black.
The man, intending to commit suicide, was thoroughly enraged. The dagger, which had been moved away, was now swung directly at Ji Zizhao's throat.
In a critical moment, Ji Zizhao held her breath and reached back, attempting to escape his hold.
She was fast, but the man lunging towards her was faster.
Before Ji Zizhao's hand could even touch the assassin, Xie Jinglan, who had been standing ten paces away, had already rushed to her side.
At the same time, another arrow whizzed through the air.
The assassin instinctively tried to dodge the rapidly approaching arrow.
However, at that moment, a hand grasped the dagger in his hand, forcing it against the assassin's other side of his neck, causing him to hesitate in his attempt to evade.
"Pfft—!"
A sound of steel piercing flesh was heard, and the assassin fell straight to the ground.
Ji Zizhao felt a chill breeze brush past her back. Before she could even shiver, her arm was suddenly held tight, and she found herself enveloped in an embrace that smelled of cold fragrance.
In her ears were the chaotic footsteps of the imperial guards, interspersed with gasps of surprise from women. It was a mess.
Before her was a solid, lean chest. Ji Zizhao could even feel the steady, calm beat of the heart within.
"Miss!" It was only when Xin Lan's panicked cry reached her ears that Ji Zizhao pushed away the chest before her and took a step back. "Thank you."
Xie Jinglan's voice was clear, steady, and calm. "It's nothing."
"Fourth Brother, why bother with the life and death of a nobody?" The Seventh Prince, Xie Jinglin, sauntered over with his bow, his eyes filled with disdain as he glanced at Ji Zizhao.
Xie Jinglan said faintly, "Do not be disrespectful. Protecting the citizens of Yu Lin is our duty."
Xie Jinglin did not seem offended by the reprimand, instead laughing heartily. "Fourth Brother, do you think my archery has improved? I hit him dead center from so far away."
Ji Zizhao, who had already turned away, heard this and looked back at the gentle young man.
The arrow had been fast, but it was not enough to make the assassin surrender.
The one who had truly threatened the assassin, leaving him no choice but to await death, was someone else.
However, Xie Jinglan, who was walking ahead, showed no intention of explaining. He merely smiled and said, "You have indeed improved."
Seeing this, Ji Zizhao did not pry. Unexpectedly, as she withdrew her gaze, Xie Jinglan looked back at her.
Their eyes met again. His gaze remained as unfathomable and inscrutable as ever.
But Ji Zizhao caught a glimpse of a sorrow that he had not yet managed to conceal.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Zha'er, don't scare your mother. Are you feeling unwell?"
Xin Lan and Lin Wanyun rushed to Ji Zizhao's side one after the other, their faces pale with fear as they saw the blood still flowing from her neck.
Ji Zizhao shook her head. "I am fine. Mother, you need not worry."
"It's just a minor injury. Why such a fuss? Our Ji family is a military household of a hundred years. Countless men have fallen on the battlefield. To make such a scene over a scratch would be a disgrace to our Ji lineage," the Old Madam said, her voice strong and chilling as she walked over, supported by Madam Xu.
Lin Wanyun bit her lip and hurried to interject.
She knew the Old Madam's words were for outsiders, fearing that the Ji family would be looked down upon.
But her daughter was the one injured; how could she stand by indifferently?
A cool hand first grasped Lin Wanyun's wrist. Lin Wanyun looked up in surprise and saw Ji Zizhao calmly shake her head.
Her grandmother's dislike for her was not new; why bother with her words?
Besides, her grandmother was right. The Ji family, at this moment, absolutely could not become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.
"Xin Lan, I'm fine. Quickly find someone to carry Qingzhu back inside and have them fetch some hot water," Ji Zizhao calmly instructed. Then she turned to Second Madam Yu Fenglan and Third Madam Yin Wenying. "Please trouble Second Aunt and Third Aunt to send someone to invite Doctor Li, who is on duty, over. Everyone was frightened tonight; even a decoction to calm their nerves would be beneficial."
An assassin who could draw the attention of two princes and mobilize the imperial guards could not be an ordinary one.
The Ji family was still under legal scrutiny. At this juncture, they had to find a way to publicize the matter and clear the Ji family's name. Otherwise, no one could guarantee that someone would not seize this opportunity to make an issue of it for the Ji family.
The Ji family could no longer withstand any storms.
Although Second Madam Yu Fenglan and Third Madam Yin Wenying looked down on the eldest daughter in their hearts, with outsiders present, they understood the need to maintain the Ji family's reputation. They busily nodded and made their arrangements.
Within moments, the entire Ji household transitioned from panic to an orderly bustle of activity.
The speed of this transition left even the Prefect of Fengtian wide-eyed.
"A dilapidated estate still possesses such composure amidst chaos. Truly remarkable," the Prefect of Fengtian muttered enviously.
Dilapidated?
Xie Jinglan, who had already walked out of the courtyard, turned back again. He looked at Ji Zizhao, whose face was streaked with sweat and her inner robe stained with blood, her complexion ashen. Yet, she calmly soothed her family and instructed her servants. His dark eyes deepened.
Perhaps...
The Ji family still had a chance to rise again.