Chapter 80

Her consciousness was a blur.
Yun Pianpian didn't know how long she had been unconscious until the sound of the bell rang in her ears.
The sound grew from far to near, closer and closer.
She could even hear the trembling of the bronze bell.
Everything before her eyes was pitch black, her limbs immovable.
Yun Pianpian heard the chanting of the Taoist priests.
“Soul, return from afar, over a thousand miles of bright path.”
The sounds of various ritual instruments filled the air without end.
Yun Pianpian suddenly realized that the Taoist priests were performing a ritual to summon spirits, she had finally returned to the side of the tyrant Yuan.
Back then, she had found the sounds of these ritual instruments noisy, but now, hearing them again, Yun Pianpian found them incredibly comforting, like a call from a past life.
The Taoists finished chanting the soul, summoning scripture.
Yun Pianpian wanted to open her eyes and wake up, but her body refused to obey her commands. It was as if something had sealed her in darkness, cutting her off from the light of day.
She heard Xiao Changyuan's icy voice.
“If the Empress does not wake up, I will execute every last one of you Taoists to accompany my Empress in her burial.”
The Taoists fell to their knees, begging for mercy, their ritual instruments clattering to the floor with crisp sounds. “Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us! This humble Taoist has already sensed the Empress's soul. If you grant us a little more time, we will surely summon her soul back.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
I’m already back.
Xiao Changyuan's voice was bone, chillingly cold. “I have run out of patience. Prepare yourselves for hell.”
“Your Majesty, have mercy.”
“Get out.”
The Taoists scrambled and crawled out of the bedchamber.
Silence filled the room.
Yun Pianpian could not open her eyes.
Before her was only a thick, impenetrable darkness.
In the dark, her hearing became exceptionally sharp. The breeze rustled through paper, producing faint, continuous rustling sounds that seemed to go on endlessly.
Yun Pianpian was puzzled.
Why was there so much paper rustling in the bedchamber?
If she could open her eyes, she would see the resplendent room plastered from floor to ceiling with talismans meant to seal souls, layer upon layer, covering every surface.
Yun Pianpian heard the sound of fabric shifting. The bedding beside her sank, and she sensed someone pulling her body into an embrace, his ink, black hair brushing against her cheek.
A cold kiss landed on her brow.
Yun Pianpian’s heart trembled. She heard Xiao Changyuan’s low, hoarse voice: “You have been asleep for six hundred and thirty, nine days. How much longer do you plan to sleep?”
Yun Pianpian froze.
How could she have been unconscious for so long?
Six hundred and thirty, nine days…twenty one months, nearly two years. She had been asleep for two years.
How was that possible?
She wasn’t Sleeping Beauty.
Without food or water for two years, anyone would starve to death, let alone being unable to move. It was just too bizarre.
But then it occurred to her, this world wasn’t real. It was just a novel.
The world of a novel exists somewhere between reality and fiction, possessing the basic framework of the real world and the fantastical elements of a virtual one.
It delicately straddles the line between the two.
So, none of this was strange after all.
Now, she was Sleeping Beauty.
Many settings in the world of novels echo one another. Just like the Qi Qingning herb that saved her life two years ago, Yun Pianpian remembered that Qi Qingning was the immortal physician from the author’s previous book. Before his death, his final wish was to live a hundred lifetimes as a medicinal herb, saving a hundred lives. And so, he truly became an herb and saved her.
The worlds of novels fulfill one another.
So, if she was sleeping endlessly now, was it because her prince hadn’t kissed her lips?
Sleeping Beauty needed a true love’s kiss to awaken.
Had Xiao Changyuan really not kissed her in all these two years?
How cold of him.
This guy.
When he should restrain himself, he doesn’t.
When he shouldn’t, he suddenly becomes abstinent.
Yun Pianpian was so frustrated she could scream.
If only she had told him the story of Sleeping Beauty back in Jiangjia Village.
In the bedchamber, the rustling of paper continued softly, and the curtains hung low.
Yun Pianpian slept like a ragdoll, gently cradled in Xiao Changyuan's arms. She didn't know how long she had been asleep when Xiao Changyuan rose from the dragon bed and left. Before departing, he leaned down and placed a cool kiss on the center of her forehead. As his footsteps faded into the distance, Yun Pianpian pricked up her ears and heard the sounds of a meal being served, Xiao Changyuan seemed to be having his meal.
After a while, he finished eating, and the sound of grinding ink followed, suggesting he had gone to review memorials.
Unconsciously, evening arrived.
Yun Pianpian heard the majestic sound of the evening drum.
Xiao Changyuan went to the White Jade Spring to bathe, then returned and used a warm, damp cloth to gently wash her face and carefully wipe her body. He treated her with extreme tenderness, as if polishing a rare treasure.
His movements were so gentle they made her want to cry.
After finishing, Xiao Changyuan lay down on the dragon bed, pulled her delicate, soft body into his embrace, and kissed her forehead with great reverence. His voice was low and hoarse as he said, “Today, Xiao Changyuan still loves Yun Pianpian very much. Yun Pianpian, don't leave him.”
Tears streamed from Yun Pianpian's eyes.
He actually remembered those words.
She had once told him that if there ever came a day when he no longer loved her, he must tell her, so she could completely give up and leave him to return to the modern world.
In the past, she would confirm with him every day:
“Does Xiao Changyuan still love Yun Pianpian today?”
So, over these two years, he had never forgotten.
Yun Pianpian felt that her heart, which had been torn and shattered beyond repair after losing the original Xiao Changyuan, was now, because of his words, stitched back together by him once more.
Yun Pianpian swore to herself:
Once she woke up, she would kiss Xiao Changyuan fiercely, kiss him with all her might, kiss him until he cried, until he fainted, until he fell apart.
She would envelop him in such intense love that he would never again remember pain.
Provided, of course, that she could wake up.
In the following days, Xiao Changyuan would kiss Yun Pianpian's forehead daily, wash her body, and massage her hands and feet to keep her blood circulating. He would carry her outside to bask in the sun, the bright rays falling upon her as she heard the spirited barking of Buling Buling.
“Aw, woof!”
After piecing together the worldview of this novel's universe, Yun Pianpian began to suspect that Buling Buling was a divine beast from a fantasy world that had descended into this transmigration realm. She tried communicating with Buling Buling through mental energy: Make him kiss my lips!
Buling Buling showed no response.
Yun Pianpian had no choice but to give up.
It seems that after the dimensional descent, Buling Buling's spiritual power was also gone.
Days passed one by one.
Just as Yun Pianpian thought she would never wake up, assassins suddenly broke into the palace.
The guards shouted, “Catch the assassins!”
Xiao Changyuan was bathing when he heard the commotion. He immediately rose, put on his dragon robe without even drying the water droplets, and hurried toward Yun Pianpian, who lay on the dragon bed.
A black, clad, masked assassin burst in, brandishing a cold blade toward Xiao Changyuan. Xiao Changyuan sidestepped the attack and countered with a sharp palm strike aimed at the assassin's face. The assassin possessed profound inner strength, unexpectedly on par with the legendary Wan Shanke. As the two were locked in combat, a faint rustling sound suddenly came from behind.
Xiao Changyuan turned to look.
Yun Pianpian had actually been hoisted over the shoulder of the black, clad assassin.
Xiao Changyuan's eyes widened with fury, his rage surging like a tidal wave.
“Let her go!”
The emperor's dark, cold eyes suddenly took on a sinister, blood, red glow.
That night, a total of thirty, two assassins had infiltrated the palace. Thirty of them were tasked with dealing with the imperial guards, while the remaining two were assigned to confront Xiao Changyuan.
One of them was Ji Wuliang.
The other was Chu Yi.
Two years ago, Chu Yi was saved by Jiang Jiang, the daughter of the Southern Border's Gu King. He persuaded her to transfer half of Ji Wuliang's power to him. After recovering from his injuries, Chu Yi went to the palace to rescue Ye Suxin. By chance, he witnessed Yun Pianpian arguing with Xiao Changyuan. Feeling as though the heavens were on his side, Chu Yi immediately drew his bow and shot an arrow at Xiao Changyuan. However, Yun Pianpian took the fatal arrow for him.
Chu Yi had not entered the palace with the intention of killing Xiao Changyuan. Seeing that his plan was exposed, he immediately went to the side hall to rescue Ye Suxin, and the two successfully escaped from the palace.
After this incident, Chu Yi suddenly realized how he could exact revenge on Xiao Changyuan.
Yun Pianpian was Xiao Changyuan's only weakness.
Chu Yi intended to use Yun Pianpian to kill Xiao Changyuan.
That night, Chu Yi persuaded Jiang Jiang to lend him Ji Wuliang and infiltrated the palace to steal Yun Pianpian. He planned to turn her into a puppet and make her turn against Xiao Changyuan.
He wanted Yun Pianpian to kill Xiao Changyuan with her own hands.
Chu Yi hoisted Yun Pianpian over his shoulder, unwilling to engage in a prolonged fight. Just as he was about to flee, Xiao Changyuan discovered him. Forced to use Yun Pianpian as a shield, Chu Yi engaged in combat with Xiao Changyuan while Ji Wuliang attacked from the side.
Xiao Changyuan launched an assault on the assassins. Under normal circumstances, these two assassins combined would not have been a match for him. However, with Yun Pianpian in their hands, Xiao Changyuan feared harming her and held back, giving his opponents an advantage. Chu Yi struck Xiao Changyuan in the chest with a palm strike, while Ji Wuliang seized the opportunity to attack from behind. Chu Yi then fled with Yun Pianpian over his shoulder.
Xiao Changyuan attempted to pursue, but Ji Wuliang blocked his path. Forced to deal with Ji Wuliang, Xiao Changyuan grew increasingly enraged the longer Chu Yi escaped. His eyes turned blood, red, his expression sinister, and with one final move, he killed Ji Wuliang.
Ji Wuliang, a grandmaster of his generation, had been turned into a puppet after his death, stripped of all dignity and forced to serve others. In that moment, he finally found release. He died at Xiao Changyuan's hands, forever resting in peace.
Meanwhile, Xiao Changyuan, severely injured and enraged by Yun Pianpian's abduction, attempted to give chase but suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
It turned out that the two palm strikes from Ji Wuliang and Chu Yi earlier had already shattered all his meridians. He had been holding on until now by sheer force of will, but now, rage surged through his heart.
Xiao Changyuan was already at the end of his strength.
His vision went black, and he completely lost consciousness.
Liu Shun rushed over, his face pale, and cried out in a desperate voice, “Summon the imperial physician! His Majesty has fainted!”
In this assassination attempt, Xiao Changyuan had fallen unconscious, one assassin had escaped, and the remaining thirty, one assassins had all been executed.
It ended in failure bBut Chu Yi had managed to steal the person he wanted.
After the incident in the imperial palace, the Five City Military Command immediately sealed the city gates and launched a full, scale search for Chu Yi.
Tonight, there was no moon, and the night was pitch black.
Chu Yi directly carried Yun Pianpian over his shoulder and arrived at the Jiang residence.
The Jiang residence was the estate of Jiang Sheyu.
Jiang Sheyu held a grudge against Xiao Changyuan and an enemy of his enemy was his friend.
Chu Yi and Jiang Sheyu hit it off from the moment they met.
Two years ago, he had conspired with Jiang Sheyu to plan this assassination. Half of the thirty assassins were rogue martial artists Jiang Sheyu knew.
The lamplight flickered, and the shadows of the trees danced faintly.
Jiang Sheyu stood in the elegant main hall, dressed in a blue robe, exuding an aura of refinement and grace, as gentle and polished as jade.
Chu Yi threw Yun Pianpian onto the ground.
“I've brought her back. As long as we implant the gu into her and soak her in medicinal herbs for forty nine days, she will become a puppet under our control. Then we can use her to assassinate Xiao Changyuan.”
Jiang Sheyu smiled and said, “Brother Chu, you've worked hard.”
Chu Yi asked, “Where is the gu?”
Jiang Sheyu took out a silver box from his chest. “Do you know how to implant the gu?”
“Jiang Jiang taught me before.”
Chu Yi took the silver box, opened the lid, and used a dagger to cut Yun Pianpian's slender, pale wrist. He placed the gu insect from the silver box onto the bleeding wound. The gu worm burrowed into Yun Pianpian's wrist along with the blood. At first, its shape could be seen beneath the skin, but it soon disappeared.
“Is the medicinal tub ready.”
Chu Yi's voice abruptly cut off as a cold dagger suddenly pierced through his back and into his heart, penetrating his chest. He lowered his head.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Why?”
Jiang Sheyu smiled gently.
“Because you are too rough.”
Jiang Sheyu smiled as he pulled out the dagger and stabbed Chu Yi a second time, a third time, a fourth time. Splatters of blood sprayed onto Jiang Sheyu's clean, fair cheeks, but he didn't even blink, his lips still curved in a gentle smile.
“I only wish to see this flower wither, but I do not wish to see it die.”
Jiang Sheyu pressed his blood, stained lips close to Chu Yi's ear and whispered softly, “So, Brother Chu, how could you treat the flower I adore with such disrespect?”