Chapter 13 Caught
I startled. The knife slipped from my fingers and clattered to the ground.
The man stared at me and repeated himself.
“I am asking you a question.”
“Answer me.”
I had tried to kill him and been caught red-handed.
Assassinating the Crown Prince—even if I had ten heads, it wouldn’t be enough.
I pressed my lips together.
“I… I only wanted to check if Your Highness’s wound was getting better…”
The lie was clumsy.
He sighed. “Then I entrust this life of mine to you.”
With that, he closed his eyes again.
This time, I didn’t dare act rashly.
I had been too impulsive earlier.
At this hour, everyone else must have already left the hunting grounds. Only Zhao Yan and I remained.
If he died, even if I wasn’t the killer, I would still be unable to escape blame.
I couldn’t drag him, so I could only wait where I was.
Before long, the imperial guards came searching and found us.
I followed them back to the Eastern Palace.
Zhao Yan was seriously injured. The Emperor and Empress were beside themselves with worry.
Zhang Ruhua came as well.
I saw her looking over at me several times.
The Empress wiped her tears and said to me, “Yan’er values you the most. Stay here and watch over him.”
I quickly agreed.
Perhaps because I felt too guilty, I didn’t dare leave his side the entire day.
While keeping watch, I eventually fell asleep.
In my drowsy state, I felt someone lift me onto the bed.
Then my lips were pried open.
And gently bitten.