The Imperial College's

Eps. 22: Intruder

Huang Yunxi enjoyed the lantern festival celebration banquet in silence. His feelings were suddenly uncertain. Ever since she plucked the strings of the guqin, her heart was instantly adrift on the figure of the First Queen who had died many years ago. The heart is connected by a very strong magical bond. Huang Yunxi seemed to be crossing an extremely long passage of time.

For some reason, her feelings of some sort of pent-up hatred rose each time her eyes stared at Consort Di's face. Inside him was as if hiding another figure who had never appeared. Huang Yunxi at first thought that she had an alter ego in this world, but she was immediately tepis because what she was experiencing clearly came from her own heart.

Concubine Di himself was immediately swept back to the Inner Palace shortly after the show was over. The woman who was about to drop the honor of Huang Yunxi continued to rumble indistinctly like a daze. The servants by his side were also at a loss as to why their master had become like that.

“Yunji, did my mother really die after giving birth to you?” huang Yunxi asked her sister.

“People say it is like that. Why is sister suddenly asking this?”

“I just want to make sure.”

Huang Yunxi had a hunch that the feelings arising in her heart must be related to the death of the First Queen. Although the case of dying after giving birth is a normal case that often occurs, but this time Huang Yunxi actually felt strange. Of the many women, why did the case have to befall her mother? As a Queen, her mother had many great people who were experts in the medical field who accompanied her. If something bad happened during labor, they could definitely help him survive death. It's not as simple as people think.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Ya.”

“Come, we fly this lantern!”

Huang Yunji led Huang Yunxi to the edge of the royal garden lake. There, the other princesses and princes also appear to gather while carrying their respective lanterns. They ignored the whereabouts of him and Huang Yunji. Huang Yunxi and Huang Yunji were like a shadow in the middle of a pitch-black night.

Ignoring the treatment of others, Huang Yunji flew a round lantern filled with prayers into the sky. The brother closed his eyes, then clenched his hands together. His mouth spoke of a hope known only to himself. Not long after, Huang Yunxi released a lantern of the same shape, but the sides of the wrapping paper were empty.

“Sister, you didn't write anything?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I do not want to be deceived by false hope. If prayer can be heard by the heavens, there is no need to write anything. Fill your heart can already get to the top there.”

“Although this explanation makes sense, but I am still happy to do it!”

“Terlarah. I know everyone has their own way.”

Huang Yunxi looked at the sky illuminated by the moonlight. Thousands of lanterns flying from the city's people mingled with lanterns flown by the royal family. This year's festival feels special because Huang Yunxi is present to be someone new in this world.

A black shadow suddenly appeared on the other side of the lake. The shadow instantly disappeared in the darkness. Huang Yunxi tried to figure out the shadowy figure until she separated from Huang Yunji without him noticing. When he woke up, he was already on the opposite side of the lake, which was a great distance away. This part of the lake is not illuminated until the surrounding conditions are dark. There was only a slight moonlight illuminating the path for the footing.

“Where did that shadow go?”

Due to the dark state, Huang Yunxi then thought of a tool that could light up the path in his brain. A flashlight then appeared in front of him. Thanks to the flashlight, some parts that were considered suspicious were successfully illuminated. The shadow figure disappeared like it was swallowed by night. Huang Yunxi only saw clumps of shrubs and wild plants.

The man he was looking for was not found. It seems like he's that guy has gone far. Huang Yunxi decided to return to the crowd. Just as he turned around, an arrow suddenly shot out from the direction of the darkness. His speed was over one two meters per second. Huang Yunxi changed her body position. The sharp end of the arrow failed to penetrate his heart. The archer did not seem to know the height of the target. The tip of the arrow actually hit Huang Yunxi's cheek, scraping her skin five centimeters long until it bled.

Huang Yunxi grimaced. It feels the same as a sharp knife. Fresh blood flowed from his open wound. Not long after, an invisible hand pulled him, taking him running away from the dark area. The figure that pulled his hand looked big height, his hair was long as his back was very stocky. After getting closer to the area that was slightly illuminated by the light, he could only see the color of the clothes the person was wearing was light blue.

“Teacher?”

Huang Yunxi was surprised to find out that the person who pulled him was Yuwen Yue. The man came at the invitation of Emperor Huang Yun Yi. Yuwen Yue came unnoticed by Huang Yunxi. As the girl took the stage and played guqin, Yuwen Yue also watched her amidst the crowd. He also watched as Huang Yunxi and Huang Yunji were flying lanterns on the edge of the lake.

When he saw Huang Yunxi walking in a dark direction, Yuwen Yue reflexively followed him. That was why he directly pulled Huang Yunxi away knowing the dark area was extremely dangerous.

“You all right?”

Huang Yunxi shook her head. The fresh blood on his cheeks kept coming out.

“Don't think about that. Treat your wounds first!”

“Luka? What wound?”

“Your face is scratched! Do you think your skin is so thick?” yuwen Yue said in an annoyed tone.

Huang Yunxi touched his open wound.

“Ah, this. Is this my blood? The color is still red it turns out.”

“You're stupid huh?”

“Teacher, why is my blood black? Wait, Master, which one are you? Left or right?”

Yuwen Yue frowned. His cold face clearly showed concern. Huang Yunxi's body suddenly went blank. The fresh blood flowing down his cheeks had indeed turned black. Yuwen Yue was instantly stunned as soon as she knew that something bad had just happened.

The girl ended up in Yuwen Yue's lap. The people who saw the two immediately crowded around. The once solemn lantern festival turned boisterous. Those present were equally curious about the incident that left Princess Xiyue slumped on the lap of the Royal Academy's Vice-Advisor with a wounded face.

“Sister! What happened to you?”

“Yunxi! Yunxi, what's wrong with you?” yuwen Yue shouted in panic. The girl closed her eyes. His entire body became weak as if it was without bones.

“Capture intruder!” huang Yunji's Order.

Some royal troops then came. They searched the dark area that Huang Yunxi had been to. The lighting is too dim. The soldiers found nothing but shrubs and fallen leaves. It seemed, the intruder that had injured Huang Yunxi had already left since earlier. There is no trace of anything that can be used as a clue.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue carried the unconscious Huang Yunxi to Liuli Palace. The celebration of the autumn lantern festival that had originally run smoothly was suddenly dissolved by Emperor Huang Yun Yi. If passed on, there will likely be another intruder looking for the target again. The Emperor did not want anyone to get hurt any more.

A royal physician then came from the direction of the front door. Everyone who was there gave way. Huang Yunxi was directly examined. His bloodied face was cleaned with a warm water rag by Yuwen Yue. Now, his elongated and deep wounds were clearly visible.

“Tabib Xue, how is my daughter?” asked Emperor Huang Yun Yi after Xue Liang finished inspecting.

“Your Majesty, forgive the stupidity and incompetence of your servant. The poison on Her Highness Princess' face was extremely rare and spread very quickly throughout her body,” Xue Liang replied full of helplessness.

“You mean, she can't be helped anymore?” asked Yuwen Yue, who made everyone who was there shiver.

“Master, I really can't afford.”

Xue Liang's speech made everyone who was inside Huang Yunxi's room lose strength. Emperor Huang Yun Yi even drooped. If Eunuch Li had not held it back, the majestic man's knees might have already touched the cold floor. On his left side, Huang Yunji was crying nonstop. She was scared, she was so scared that her older sister could not live anymore.

“Pu... My daughter... No! Physician Xue, you must cure him! My daughter can't die!”

“Sister, wake! You can't leave me!”

Deep sadness and disappointment were clearly visible on the Emperor's face. Her only daughter was exposed to danger and she couldn't even do anything. If Huang Yunxi did not survive, Emperor Huang Yun Yi really did not know how to face the First Queen in the afterlife. He should have taken good care of her, not let her go unnoticed and let her walk alone into a dark area without an escort. Emperor Huang Yun Yi will not forgive anyone who has harmed his daughter. Moreover, he would not forgive himself forever.

The state of the Emperor is known to Eunuch Li. The Emperor was then brought back to Mingyan Palace to rest. Huang Yunji was also taken to his palace. Now, only Yuwen Yue and Sanqi remained in the room of Liuli Palace, waiting for Huang Yunxi while hoping that the girl could regain consciousness.

Silent. Two people live in their minds. The rest of the crying on Sanqi's face was still imprinted. Seeing his beloved master lying like a corpse, his life felt empty. It was better to see him angry and scolded, not a weak one like this.

Yuwen Yue was the worst. For some reason, seeing the girl who had always insisted against him lying helplessly, her heart ached. Huang Yunxi's once cheerful face now became stiff with no expression. Those closed eyes made Yuwen Yue's eyes like they were sprinkled with chili powder. There was a desire to change his life so that Huang Yunxi could open his eyes again, there was a desire to exchange positions with the girl.

However, there is no power.

...***...