The covered truths

Chapter 19: the covered truths 

"Who is that?" Chen Xui said, her voice barely above a whisper. Before they could rise, they were ambushed by three assassins, their faces obscured by cloth masks. 

"Princess, run!" Chen Xui shouted, desperately trying to buy time for Princess Hua, who was moving far too slowly. 

"Assassin!" Chen Xui's voice echoed through the dimly lit room, a chilling warning that reverberated in the night. The assassins pursued Princess Hua, their intentions clear and deadly. Meanwhile, the house guards, alerted by Chen Xui's cries, rushed to the princess's room, unaware that the real danger lay elsewhere.

The assassins closed in on the princess, who fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Please don't kill me! I will give you anything you want. Just name it—gold or silver! I don't want to die!" 

Just as one of the assassins raised his sword to strike, the Masking Knight appeared, though he was clearly weakened and unable to fight effectively. Fortunately, Bao arrived just in time to support him, and together they managed to dispatch two of the attackers, while the leader fled into the shadows.

"Princess, are you okay?" Bao asked, concern etched on his face. Princess Hua, still trembling from the ordeal, nodded in response.

"Is that the Masking Knight?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Who is the Masking Knight?" Bao inquired, confusion evident in his tone.

"The one who saved me just now," Princess Hua replied, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and gratitude.

"Princess," Chen Xui said, panting heavily as she approached them, slightly injured from her efforts to protect the princess. "Are you okay?"

Princess Hua nodded again, but her fear was palpable. Bao helped her back to her room, where she looked around anxiously.

"I can't sleep alone," she admitted, her voice trembling.

"Princess, Chen Xui is here with you," Bao reassured her.

"No," Princess Hua insisted, her fear overwhelming her.

Bao, sensing the urgency of the situation, stepped into the library. "Young master, are you okay?" he asked Wang Wei, who looked weak but composed.

"I am," Wang Wei replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "How is she?"

"She is scared and can't sleep alone," Bao explained.

"Who could have tried to assassinate the princess?" Wang Wei pondered aloud.

"Tell that spy to find out who did this," he commanded, his tone firm.

As Bao left, Wang Wei wheeled himself toward the princess's room. "Wei, I am scared," Princess Hua said, rushing into his arms.

Wang Wei signaled for Chen Xui to leave, wanting to comfort the princess alone. "I cannot sleep alone," she repeated, her voice filled with desperation.

"Don't worry, I will sleep with you," Wang Wei promised, offering her a sense of security.

That night, they slept together in the room, the shadows of fear lingering but softened by their shared presence.

The next morning dawned beautifully, with the palace parrot chattering and birds singing outside. However, the tranquility was shattered when the palace eunuch entered with grave news.

"Your majesty, I have received information that Princess Hua lost her baby," he announced.

"My poor Hua," the emperor lamented, his heart heavy with regret. "I should have accepted her when she wanted to end her engagement with General Wang's son. Maybe this wouldn't have happened to her."

"Your majesty, you don't need to blame yourself," the eunuch said gently.

"I thought marrying her into the general's family would keep her safe," the emperor replied, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Your majesty, do you mean you did that for Princess Hua?" the eunuch asked, surprised.

"Hua has been my favorite daughter since she was born. I didn't want her to know how much I cherished her; that's why people thought Li was the most cherished princess. I wanted her to have a good life," the emperor explained, his eyes clouded with emotion.

"What about her marriage to Mr. Guo?" the eunuch inquired.

"I never intended for her to marry Mr. Guo. I thought she would come back to plead; who knew she would run away?" the emperor said, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Send my order to the general's mansion: they have three days to identify whoever pushed Princess Hua into the sea and caused the death of my grandchild," the emperor commanded, his resolve hardening. 

The shadows of betrayal loomed large, and the emperor was determined to uncover the truth.