"Qi Huan, I neglected you today. It was my fault."
"You were preoccupied with the epidemic. I understand. Li Shuchen isn't just my Li Shuchen; he's also Prince An to the people. I won't be upset over such a small matter. On the contrary, I'm proud of you."
Qi Huan's eyes sparkled, her bright gaze fixed unwaveringly on the man lying beside her.
Li Shuchen's lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes full of tenderness as he looked at her. "With a wife like you, what more could a man ask for?"
Hearing this, Qi Huan quickly covered his mouth, her cheeks flushing as she playfully chided, "I'm still a Yunying maiden. I'm not your wife yet."
Suddenly, she felt Li Shuchen's lips brush against her palm, his warm tongue sending tingles through her body.
She hastily withdrew her hand, hiding it behind her back as she glared at him, pouting.
Li Shuchen simply ruffled her hair in response.
"Next year, when your mourning period ends, I'll ask for your hand in marriage."
"Will the Emperor agree?"
"For my marriage, I only need your consent."
Qi Huan's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. "Well, that depends on how you behave."
Remembering how he had been neglecting his health lately, she deliberately put on a stern face. "You haven't been eating regularly or going to bed early these days..."
"I'll change."
With that, Li Shuchen extinguished the candle and obediently closed his eyes.
Held in his embrace, Qi Huan found herself unable to fall asleep.
Having slept too much during the day, she was wide awake at night. She began counting sheep in her mind, and just as she reached the 999th sheep, she suddenly heard Li Shuchen whisper, "There are assassins. Enter the space."
Qi Huan's eyes flew open, and she quickly transported him into her secret space.
Li Shuchen had intended for her to hide while he dealt with the assassins. However, he hadn't expected to be pulled into the space along with her.
Well, they'd leave the assassins for Yan Wu and Yan Qinghe to handle.
As they both entered the space, the necklace fell onto the bed.
The assassins flooded into the room but couldn't find Li Shuchen. However, they noticed that the bamboo mat on the bed was still warm.
The leader quickly deduced, "Check the bathhouse and the privy!"
Before leaving, the assassin at the back of the group pocketed the necklace that had fallen on the pillow.
It was gold, after all. Though small, he didn't mind.
The assassins split into two groups, one heading to the bathhouse, the other to the privy.
The group that went to the bathhouse encountered Yan Qinghe, who was in the middle of bathing.
"Perverts!"
"Shut up, we're assassins."
"Pervert assassins!"
"..."
The assassins suddenly regretted engaging in conversation.
They drew their blades and began to close in on him.
Yan Qinghe whistled, first alerting the palace guards, then gritted his teeth. In all his naked glory, he grabbed a sword and began to fight them.
Noticing one of the assassins sneaking a glance at him, his face turned crimson, and his sword strokes became even more ferocious.
Meanwhile, Yan Wu was humming a tune as he loosened his belt, when he heard the rustle of footsteps.
He turned around and attempted to negotiate, "Could you let me fasten my belt first?"
This group of assassins remained silent, men of few words but deadly intent, as they lunged at him with their blades.
Fortunately, Yan Wu had managed to tie a quick knot in his belt while speaking, and swiftly drew his sword to meet their attack.
In the moonlit courtyard, amid the swaying shadows of trees, blades clashed and weapons clanged.
The sounds penetrated the secret space, and Li Shuchen listened intently. The clashing was all from blades, with no spears, indicating that the palace guards hadn't arrived yet.
Amidst the chaos, he heard a particularly clear heartbeat. Could the necklace be on one of the assassins?
It was the necklace Qi Huan had given him.
Li Shuchen's eyes flickered as he turned to Qi Huan. "I'm going out to help Yan Wu and Yan Qinghe."
"Wait a moment."
Qi Huan brought out a box of hidden weapons, along with the crossbow and dagger he had given her, and a few newly bought kitchen knives.
"Choose a weapon!"
"Also, if things get dangerous, don't try to tough it out. Just shout... 'Save me!' and I'll bring you back in."
"..."
Li Shuchen gave a reassuring "Mm," then casually picked up the dagger and left the space, suddenly appearing before the assassins.
While the assassins were stunned, Li Shuchen swiftly disarmed one, using the stolen blade to stab an attacker behind him, then slashed the disarmed assassin's throat with his dagger, quickly retrieving the necklace from his pocket.
"It's Li Shuchen!"
"Kill him!"
At their leader's command, the assassins swarmed towards Li Shuchen. He met them with a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes, his gaze filled with contempt and mockery.
With unrest at the border and drought in Yunzhou, his two dear uncles, instead of defending the realm or aiding the people, were focused on killing their own kin. It truly justified the nicknames he'd given them — S and B.
Li Shuchen raised his blade, moving like a shadow among the assassins. His cold steel flashed, the edge stained with blood as he delivered precise, lethal strikes.
The blood of his enemies stained his white undergarments red, even spattering a few drops near his eyes. The young man appeared like a god of death, the blood as vibrant as blooming flowers, making him look both cold and beautiful.
By the time he had dispatched the assassins, the palace guards finally arrived.
Mo Wangshan's lips quivered a few times before he explained truthfully, "Your Highness, the Imperial Commissioner took charge of the refugees and patients today. These lads were overjoyed and had a few drinks, which delayed them. Please punish us as you see fit."
Li Shuchen gave him a cool glance, his face as calm as still water. "Clean up the bloodstains in the courtyard thoroughly. Burn the bodies to ash and send them to Prince Zhong. Return what belongs to him."
These assassins had been blatant, making no attempt to conceal their actions. They might as well have had "I want to kill you" written in large letters on their faces.
Typical of Prince Zhong's style.
As the smell of blood in the air grew stronger, Li Shuchen frowned and turned to more pressing matters.
He first bathed, cleaning himself thoroughly, then repeatedly washed Qi Huan's necklace.
After cleaning it, he even held it over an incense burner to perfume it.
Meanwhile, the palace guards removed the bodies and scrubbed the courtyard's stone tiles clean.
The courtyard gate was gently closed, and aside from Yan Qinghe still cursing the assassins, wishing them to be born blind in their next life and for their children to be born without anuses, the courtyard fell silent.
Li Shuchen sat back on the bed and softly called out, "Qi Huan."
"Ta-da! Your little fairy suddenly appears!"
Qi Huan threw herself into his arms and looked up, asking, "Are all the assassins gone?"
"Yes, they left quite peacefully."
One strike, instant death.
Li Shuchen took out the necklace he had kept close to his chest and reminded her, "Qi Huan, next time you enter the space, remember to hide this first."
Qi Huan nodded slightly. She had been hiding it well all this time.
She had thought that hanging it around Li Shuchen's neck would put her mind at ease.
Yet she had forgotten that tonight, she had brought him into the space with her.
Now that the space had taken physical form, it came with both advantages and disadvantages. If only the necklace could turn invisible.
The system immediately replied, "That's not something a level five host should be thinking about."
"Goodnight, host. Sleep early and rise early. Tomorrow, work hard and earn more points!"
"Goodnight," Qi Huan replied.
She yawned, finding a comfortable position in Li Shuchen's embrace, and drifted off into a deep sleep.
