Seeing the emperor approaching, Gu Yanxi took a few steps back to avoid him. If it weren't for the blood on his chest, his steps would have been as steady as that of an uninjured person.
“Gu Yanxi! You…!” The emperor was filled with hatred and shouted, “Come here, call the doctor! Call the imperial physician quickly!”
Lai Fu, who was standing guard at the door, was startled and jumped up to go to the Imperial Hospital. Hua Zhi, who had stood up at the same time, quickly grabbed him and said, "Peony, find Shaoyao!"
Lai Fu turned around and immediately ran in another direction.
Hua Zhi bit the flesh on the back of her hand hard. There were two people in the room. The emperor was fine, and the only one who was ill was Yan Xi.
Before, she had been thinking about how to break the impasse, wondering what Yan Xi should do to get away with it without angering the emperor, but she didn't expect Yan Xi to do so at the cost of self-harm.
She should go in, she wanted to go in, and it took almost all of her self-control to stop herself from going in.
To the emperor, she was the source of the conflict between them. If she went in at this time, it would likely arouse the emperor's anger, making the situation worse and making Yan Xi's blood shed in vain.
She endured it, and endured it again, waiting for Shaoyao to come. Hua Zhi unconsciously clenched her teeth harder.
Inside the hall, Yan Xi slid down against the pillar and sat down. Looking at the half-submerged dagger in his chest, he grabbed it and was about to pull it out. This time the emperor finally stopped him in time. He held his nephew's hand tightly, his facial features grim and violent as a result of the force.
"A woman! Just for a woman! You didn't hesitate to expose your identity and risk your life. I taught you so much, not to let you disobey me for a woman!" The emperor sneered, "Don't tell me that there is a lovesick person in the royal family."
Gu Yanxi closed his eyes and did not want to argue. He could not tell the emperor who had countless women that he only wanted to live with one woman, hoped to travel around the mountains with the same woman, hoped to have a child who looked like her and grow old with her.
He knew it didn't make sense.
If he had known that such a thing would happen today, he should have made some preparations, such as wearing an extra layer of clothing. It was really a bit cold after taking off the thick official uniform. It might also be that the blood was flowing too fast. He could feel the warm blood flowing out of the wound and getting colder little by little, sticking to the clothes on his chest, which was very uncomfortable.
Azhi would definitely be angry. He had just promised her a few days ago that he would discuss it with her before revealing his identity. However, after learning that Azhi had entered the palace and what the emperor's uncle was planning, he could no longer think so much.
That was the man whom I worshipped as my own father! How could he do such a thing as forcing Ah Zhi to enter the palace!
The emperor also lost his strength. He sat down somewhere exhausted. His mind was dizzy. He wanted to think about this matter carefully, but he couldn't concentrate. His heart was heavy and he felt something was wrong.
"Bang!" The door of the hall was kicked open suddenly, and Shaoyao rushed in like the wind. Without even looking at the emperor, she knelt beside her brother, tore off his clothes on his chest, looked at the bloody wound, glared at her brother fiercely, and then pinched his wrist. Her heartbeat was so fast that she could not hear his pulse clearly. She slapped herself hard, and the pain calmed her down a little, and then she took her brother's pulse again.
Lai Fu took a look at the situation in the room, tiptoed to move a chair over, bent down and helped the emperor sit down.
Only Hua Zhi was left standing at the door. The large patch of dark red on her white undershirt hurt her eyes. She looked up and met Yan Xi's gaze.
There was sadness in it, but also relief that she could understand.
She stepped over the threshold and came in front of Yan Xi, squatted beside Shaoyao and looked at the bloody dagger. The material of the dagger was the same as the ones given to her.
At this time, Shaoyao had already spread out her set of gold needles and inserted them into the acupuncture points on her chest one by one steadily and quickly, and the blood flow slowed down at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Then she pushed over her medicine box, turned it over, picked out a bottle, uncorked it, fiercely pinched Gu Yanxi's chin and poured it in. She picked up several bottles and jars that only she would not make mistakes with and put them aside in order. She picked up a slightly larger one and opened it. The strong aroma of wine filled her nose, "Huahua, draw your sword."
Hua Zhi heard the sound of herself swallowing saliva, but she grasped the handle of the knife without any hesitation. She lowered it, exerted force again, and pulled out the dagger with a splash of blood. Shaoyao immediately poured a whole bottle of liquor on the wound. Gu Yanxi, who had not made any movement when the knife was pulled out, groaned.
Hua Zhi's hand holding the dagger trembled slightly. She did not look up at the person who was watching her. Her eyes followed Shaoyao's movements, watching her clean the wound, apply layer after layer of medicine, and remove the golden needle.
Then he watched her throw those bottles and cans into the medicine box like sweeping the floor, and ran out with the medicine box without saying a word.
As the sound of footsteps faded away, the huge hall seemed to become even quieter.
Hua Zhi helped Yan Xi stand up, "Whether you want to punish him or execute him, just wait for the emperor's order."
Gu Yanxi couldn't bear to see Hua Zhi suffer, so he forced himself not to press his body on her. Hua Zhi glanced at him, put herself under his armpit, and forced herself to carry most of his weight as they walked out.
His hands hidden in his sleeves were clenched into fists and his thin lips were almost pressed into a straight line. The emperor watched the two of them walk out of the hall leaning against each other, and he did not take his eyes off them for a long time.
The road out of the palace was very long, and it seemed endless at this moment. The wind made the lanterns on the corridor sway, and the shadows seemed to reveal many people hiding in the dark, either living or dead.
Hua Zhi no longer felt cold. There was a little sweat on her forehead and her breathing became faster, but she still held the person steadily.
Suddenly, there was a clattering sound of footsteps coming from far behind. Hua Zhi knew who it was without looking back. Sure enough, after a while, she felt something lighten up her body, and Shaoyao supported Yan Xi from the other side.
Seeing her red eyes, Hua Zhi knew that she had been crying secretly somewhere. She stretched out her arm and touched her head to comfort her, then helped her walk forward slowly.
She didn't dare walk fast for fear that the wound would split.
Gu Yanxi looked to the left and then to the right, as if everything she had was here. She actually felt a sense of satisfaction in her heart. She quietly pulled the two of them into her arms. Both of them noticed it, but neither of them looked up.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the palace gate finally came into sight.
Outside the palace gate, the Hua family's carriage had been waiting for a long time. Yingchun bit her ninth fingernail until it bled before she finally saw the young lady who seemed to be fine and Mr. Lu who looked not well.
She quickly ordered Li De to drive the carriage over, and several people helped Gu Yanxi onto the carriage.
A gust of wind blew, Hua Zhi stepped on the bicycle frame and looked back at the dark palace that seemed to be roaring with mountains of corpses and seas of blood. This was the place she hoped she would never have the chance to enter again.
PS: The second chapter is really not good enough, I need to rewrite it, and I will update it three times tomorrow. I saw many readers say that Kong Kong's writing has a sense of picture, that's because I will set the scene in my mind for every scene, everyone's movements, everyone's standing position, and everyone's emotional changes will be rehearsed in my mind, so I write slowly.