novelhk Chapter 526: Pei Yan narrowly escapes assassination.
Chapter 526: Pei Yan narrowly escapes assassination.
An assassin leaped high into the air, attempting to attack Pei Yan from above. Pei Yan remained calm, crouching down before suddenly lunging upwards and punching the assassin in the abdomen. The assassin screamed and flew away.
At this moment, Pei Yan's clothes were torn in several places, and his face was stained with some blood, but his eyes became more determined and his fighting spirit more vigorous.
"No matter who sent you, you will not succeed today!" Pei Yan roared and charged at the assassins again.
Just then, the palace guards heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing that things were going badly, the assassins exchanged glances and quickly fled.
"Don't let them get away!" Pei Yan shouted.
The guards hurriedly gave chase, but the assassins were familiar with the palace layout and quickly disappeared without a trace.
Pei Yan stood there, panting heavily, his eyes filled with anger and confusion.
"Who on earth is so eager to kill me?" Pei Yan frowned and fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Fang Xiaoxiao, in Lingxi Pavilion, was completely unaware of everything that had happened in the palace and was still anxiously waiting for news from Pei Yan.
After escaping the assassination attempt, Pei Yan was filled with worry. He knew all too well the treacherous and dangerous nature of the palace, and he absolutely could not allow his beloved Fang Xiaoxiao to be drawn into this terrible vortex.
"I can't let her get hurt in the slightest. Even if she hates me, it's better than putting her in danger." Pei Yan made up his mind.
Therefore, Pei Yan specially sent a young eunuch out of the palace to deliver a message to Lingxi Pavilion.
Fang Xiaoxiao waited anxiously in Lingxi Pavilion, eagerly awaiting news of Pei Yan. When the young eunuch stepped into Lingxi Pavilion, a spark of hope instantly ignited in her eyes.
"Father-in-law, did Pei Yan send you? Is he alright?" Fang Xiaoxiao asked anxiously, her voice trembling.
The young eunuch glanced at Fang Xiaoxiao, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes, but he still steeled himself and said as Pei Yan had instructed, "Miss Fang, the Crown Prince sent me to deliver a message to you. He said... he said he never loved you; you were merely a plaything for his momentary whim. Now that he has regained his freedom and is about to ascend to a high position, someone of your status is utterly unworthy of him. He told you to stop bothering him and to sever all ties completely from now on!"
These words struck Fang Xiaoxiao like a bolt from the blue, shattering her heart in an instant. Her eyes widened in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes.
"No, it's impossible! Pei Yan wouldn't say that, he wouldn't!" Fang Xiaoxiao shouted hysterically, her voice filled with pain and despair.
“Miss Fang, these are indeed the Crown Prince’s exact words. I am merely relaying them truthfully.” The young eunuch lowered his head, not daring to look at Fang Xiaoxiao’s heartbroken expression.
Fang Xiaoxiao swayed and almost fell. Her heart felt as if it had been slashed by countless sharp blades, the pain making it hard to breathe.
"Why? Why did this happen?" she murmured to herself, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam.
The young eunuch hurriedly left, leaving Fang Xiaoxiao alone in the Lingxi Pavilion, weeping. Her heart was shattered into countless pieces; all the beautiful memories of the past had now become the sharpest knives, piercing her soul time and time again.
Meanwhile, Pei Yan silently endured his inner torment in the palace. He imagined Fang Xiaoxiao's pained expression upon hearing those words, and his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
"Xiao Xiao, forgive me, it was all to protect you." Pei Yan murmured to himself, gazing at the sky outside the window, tears blurring his vision.
At night, Fang Xiaoxiao lay in bed, her gaze vacant, tears soaking her pillow. She recalled every moment with Pei Yan, those sweet memories now becoming the cruelest torment.
"How could he be so heartless? Was everything before just a lie?" Fang Xiaoxiao kept asking herself, but she still refused to believe that Pei Yan would really treat her like this.
The next day, Fang Xiaoxiao looked haggard, and her eyes had lost their former luster. She wandered aimlessly through the Lingxi Pavilion like a walking corpse.
Murong Changqing and the others felt heartbroken when they saw her like this.
"Xiao Xiao, don't torture yourself like this. Maybe there's some misunderstanding," Murong Changqing comforted her softly.
Fang Xiaoxiao smiled sadly: "Misunderstanding? Every word was like a sharp blade, piercing my heart with pain. What misunderstanding could there be?"
Ouyang Tuoba said angrily, "That Pei Yan is too heartless, how could he treat you like this!"
Long Jinyan remained silent, his eyes filled with worry.
Fang Xiaoxiao gazed out the window and murmured, "Perhaps, this is my fate..."
Meanwhile, Pei Yan was silently watching over Fang Xiaoxiao's situation in the palace. Every time he heard about her pain and despair, his heart ached even more.
"Xiao Xiao, once everything is over, I will explain everything to you. Please, you must be alright." Pei Yan prayed silently in his heart.
Seeing Fang Xiaoxiao's heartbroken state, He Jinnian felt extremely distressed. He stepped forward, gently took her hand, and said softly, "Xiaoxiao, don't be so sad. Pei Yan may have his own unspeakable difficulties. Torturing yourself like this will only make your loved ones suffer and your enemies rejoice." His eyes were full of concern and pity, as if he could absorb Fang Xiaoxiao's pain as well.
Long Jinyan was furious. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "That Pei Yan is simply too much! Xiao Xiao is so sincere to him, yet he is so heartless. I'm going to the palace to kill him and avenge Xiao Xiao!" His eyes were wide open, his face was flushed, and he was like a volcano about to erupt, his anger burning fiercely.
Zhou Wenjian shook his head and sighed repeatedly, his brows furrowed, and said reproachfully, "This Crown Prince is too cruel. How could he treat Xiao Xiao like this? They were so loving back then, but now... Alas!" His tone was full of disappointment and helplessness, and he was indignant about the injustice suffered by Fang Xiao Xiao.
A faint glimmer of hope flashed in Ouyang Tuoba's eyes. He moved closer to Fang Xiaoxiao and said softly, "Xiaoxiao, don't be sad for that heartless man. There are many good men in this world, like me, Ouyang Tuoba. I will be devoted to you and will never let you suffer the slightest grievance." His words carried a hint of flattery and expectation, trying to enter Fang Xiaoxiao's heart when she was at her most vulnerable.
As Fang Xiaoxiao listened to their words, tears continued to stream down her face. She raised her head, her eyes vacant, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't say anything more, my heart is dead."
He Jinnian held Fang Xiaoxiao tightly in his arms and whispered, "Xiaoxiao, no matter what, I will always be by your side until you find your smile again." His embrace was warm and firm, as if it could shield Fang Xiaoxiao from all storms.
Long Jinyan paced back and forth in the room, muttering to himself, "No, I have to go and settle accounts with Pei Yan and make him give me an explanation!"