656 Inner Palace and Outer Palace

Nan Hua's location was at the outer palace because the identity she took was that of a low ranked maidservant. However, there were much more guards prepared for that day.

Emperor Yang Zhou looked at the additional guard who stood outside his bedroom with an indifferent expression. However, the gaze within his eyes changed for a moment when he saw the other party.

"Your Majesty, are you going to roll the dice today?" one of the ministers asked.

Roll the dice was the phrase used for the Emperor to pick the ladies in the harem for him to spend the night in. If the Emperor had no one he wanted to spend the night in particular, using this method could assure some kind of fairness for these ladies.

Emperor Yang Zhou looked at the plate in front of him and waved his hand. "Not today, I'm going to review the record."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Since Emperor Yang Zhou had said so, the minister also didn't press the matter. Not to mention, it didn't really matter who Emperor Yang Zhou spent the night with either way. If he wanted to be alone for one night without any bed warmer, they would agree but they would make sure that he pick someone tomorrow.

Emperor Yang Zhou nodded and walked towards his inner chamber. He didn't say anything else and directly headed into his room and changed his clothes. However, his gaze lingered on the sword placed inside his room.

'Since Long Qian Xing even disguised himself as my personal guard, does it mean this time is very dangerous?'

After some contemplation, Emperor Yang Zhou wore light armor and kept the sword close to him. He then took several scrolls and began to read while waiting for the inevitable to come.

Outside the door, Long Qian Xing stood guard and silently pursed his lips. Even though Emperor Yang Zhou hadn't said anything, he knew that the other party must have recognized him. They had fought together for so many years, how could they not be familiar with each other?

'Without an additional woman to take care, it should be better.'

Long Qian Xing naturally knew the large harem that Emperor Yang Zhou had but never commented about it. This Emperor was a bit pitiful because he still had to listen to the words of the many ministers regarding his private life. Though, Emperor Yang Zhou didn't seem to mind about it.

Probably, it was also because his mind set was as a person of this era. He didn't think it was weird for a man to have a lot of women waiting for them. Well, some people liked harem, but Long Qian Xing was included in those who didn't.

The night grew quieter.

Long Qian Xing didn't stand there alone as there were other guards. Neither one of them speak as they silently did their duties. Just as the time approaching midnight, Long Qian Xing faintly sensed the smell of blood.

'They're here.'

It would take some time before those assassins made their way into the inner palace. During this time, it would be better for him to move Emperor Yang Zhou to a safer place aside from this room.

"Your Majesty," Long Qian Xing called from outside.

"What is it?" Emperor Yang Zhou asked, yet his hand was holding his sword tighter. His other hand put the bamboo scroll he was holding to the side. He might have participated in some battles during his youth, but he didn't have senses as keen as Long Qian Xing.

"There are smells of blood. For safety reason, it'll be better to move away from here." Long Qian Xing looked at the other two guards with him. They were staring at him with furrowed eyebrows.

It was clear that they didn't sense the blood either.

As someone who had lived at the frontline for so many years and faced with countless deaths, Long Qian Xing was very familiar with this smell of blood. It was the smell that he had to face almost every single day without exception.

"Alright."

Emperor Yang Zhou stood up and walked to the door. His other hand was holding the sword tightly as he opened the door.

Swish! Slash!

The moment he walked out, one of the two other guards suddenly brandished his sword towards Emperor Yang Zhou. However, his sword failed to connect as Long Qian Xing reacted faster and slashed his arm, severing it. The arm and the sword fell to the ground with a thud.

After that, Long Qian Xing kicked the other party and pressed his sword on the man's neck.

"Your Majesty, it seems that the guards' reconstruction is necessary." Long Qian Xing looked at the man on the ground coldly. "Who sent you?"

The man merely glared at Long Qian Xing before coughing out blood. It was clear that he had kept poison between his teeth so that he would be able to kill himself when the mission failed.

Emperor Yang Zhou looked at the other guard, who immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, Guard Lan Qiu is at your service."

The guard clearly didn't expect that there would be someone who dared to try killing Emperor Yang Zhou at this very moment. He himself swore that if he was suspected because of this, he would kill that person at any moment.

Emperor Yang Zhou moved his line of sight back to Long Qian Xing. "How far have they come?"

"I don't know for sure, but they should be quite close since the smell of blood can't travel that far." Long Qian Xing narrowed his eyes. "There might be more enemies than expected, Your Majesty."

"Bring me to that room." Emperor Yang Zhou's gaze turned a shade colder.

"Yes."

Long Qian Xing noticed the sword that Emperor Yang Zhou brought with him but said nothing and lead the way. His keen senses still sensed the smell of blood, but there were also a lot of guards he had placed.

Which organization came to wreak havoc this time?

There were too many small organizations that Long Qian Xing felt a bit of headache.