The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

Realizing their intentions, the enemies gradually converged towards the weak points of defense.

"Don't let them escape!" The leader's voice was hoarse.

Those who could follow closely by Shang Junlin's side were the elite of the elite. Under Shang Junlin's lead, they fought their way out, leaving a trail of blood behind them.

The silence of the mountains and forests was shattered, and the sound of blades clashing would inevitably draw the attention of others sooner or later. The assassins knew this well; they needed a swift and decisive battle.

Most of the arrows on Shen Yu's body had been used up, and the man protected him tightly against his chest, without a single scratch. However, the lingering smell of blood remained in the air, and there were bloodstains on his body and face.

—It was the blood of the enemies.

Shen Yu clung closely to Shang Junlin. At this moment, he couldn't burden the man with any unnecessary worries.

His fingers tightened around the bow and arrows, the knuckles turning white. Whenever someone tried to attack Shang Junlin when he wasn't paying attention, he would counterattack and eliminate them.

The two of them cooperated seamlessly, encountering danger but managing to overcome it.

The Hidden Dragon Guards, who had received secret orders, appeared in time, instantly turning the tide of the situation.

"Capture them alive. I want to know who's behind this," Shang Junlin commanded, his presence towering as he looked down at the suppressed assassins.

Shen Yu let out a long breath, relaxing his body.

He leaned against the man's embrace, finally releasing the tension that had been building up for so long. If it weren't for the man's strong arms holding him, he might have collapsed.

Such a significant incident couldn't be concealed. By the time Shen Yu and Shang Junlin returned to their camp, the courtiers had already received the news.

Shen Yu and Shang Junlin were both covered in blood. Many of the guards who followed them were injured as well. Shang Junlin ordered them to be treated and led Shen Yu back to their tent.

The captured assassins were handed over to Minister Fang. Shang Junlin didn't care about the fate of these people, but he wanted to know who was behind them.

The palace servants swiftly prepared hot water and clean clothes before leaving the tent.

Shang Junlin wore a dark-colored robe, and the bloodstains only slightly deepened the color. Shen Yu wore a lighter color, and any bloodstains would be much more noticeable.

Shen Yu touched Shang Junlin's hem, which was wet from blood. He let go, and his hand was stained red.

He furrowed his brows. "Your Majesty, are you not injured?"

"This is someone else's blood," Shang Junlin said, casually removing his outer robe and using a clean inner garment to wipe away the blood on Shen Yu's hand. "Ah Yu, you protected me. How could I get hurt?"

Shen Yu's calm demeanor impressed Shang Junlin. Faced with such a perilous situation, maintaining composure was not easy. Shang Junlin had worried that Shen Yu might be frightened, but Shen Yu had shown no fear at all. Not only that, he had skillfully evaded harm several times.

"Today, thanks to Ah Yu." Shang Junlin raised his hand to touch Shen Yu's face but hesitated when he saw the bloodstains on his hand.

Shen Yu took the initiative to hold his hand and pressed it against his face. "With Your Majesty by my side, I'm not afraid of anything."

Feeling the slight tremor in Shen Yu's body, Shang Junlin's train of thought was interrupted. "Today, I caused Ah Yu to be frightened."

Shen Yu shook his head, but the increasing trembling of his body revealed his true emotions.

"Ah Yu, you were amazing today." Shang Junlin gently kissed his forehead and pulled him into an embrace.

Once Shen Yu's trembling subsided, Shang Junlin released him. "Freshen up first, soak in some warm water, and relax."

"Alright." Shen Yu nodded gently.

After Shen Yu left, the head of the Imperial Guards arrived, looking quite anxious. He reported the situation to the Emperor, not daring to delay any longer.

"What's the matter?" Shang Junlin asked, his expression grave.

"Your Majesty, Shang Yue has been rescued."

Shang Junlin's face turned cold. He strode into the tent with a purposeful gait.

Shen Yu sat up. "What happened?"

"Shang Yue was rescued."

"Who did it?" Shen Yu's eyes narrowed.

"It's not clear yet," Shang Junlin replied, his voice tight.

"Could it be..."

"Leave this matter to me," Shang Junlin interrupted, his tone firm. "I will personally investigate and handle it."

Shen Yu didn't press further, but he was clearly worried.

"Your Majesty, the matter with Shang Yue is indeed concerning, but now that we're back in the camp, we should focus on our safety," Shen Yu advised.

Shang Junlin nodded, his expression gradually relaxing. "You're right. I won't let any harm come to you."

Shen Yu managed a small smile. "I trust you, Your Majesty."

Shang Junlin returned the smile. "Rest assured, I'll handle everything."

The two of them settled down to sleep, both knowing that the challenges ahead were far from over.

Days passed, and investigations continued. The captured assassins were interrogated, but extracting information from them proved difficult. The conspirators had been careful to erase any traces that could lead back to them.

Shen Yu spent his time beside Shang Junlin, providing comfort and support as they navigated through the aftermath of the assassination attempt.

One day, Shang Junlin received a report from his subordinates.

"Your Majesty, we've uncovered some information regarding the origins of the assassins," the official reported.

Shang Junlin's eyes flickered with interest. "Tell me."

"The assassins were hired by a noblewoman, Madam Xu," the official revealed.

Shen Yu's eyebrows furrowed. "Madam Xu? Why would she do this?"

"We're still investigating, Your Highness," the official replied.

Shang Junlin's expression darkened. "Bring her in for questioning."

Madam Xu was brought to the palace and questioned extensively. Under pressure, she confessed that she had been manipulated by external forces with their own agenda.

Shang Junlin and Shen Yu listened to her testimony. It seemed that this assassination attempt was part of a larger plot aimed at destabilizing the empire.

"We must uncover the true mastermind behind all this," Shang Junlin declared.

The investigation continued, leading them to uncover a complex web of intrigue and power struggles within the court. As they delved deeper, it became clear that the assassination attempt was only the tip of the iceberg.

Shang Junlin and Shen Yu faced countless challenges as they worked to uncover the truth and maintain stability in the empire. Their bond grew stronger with each trial they faced, and their determination to protect each other never wavered.

And so, the story of their journey continued, marked by danger, loyalty, and the unbreakable bond between them.