Yan Xijun gazed at Chu Yixuan with a stubborn expression, pursing her lips and remaining silent. However, her silence spoke volumes about her attitude, and she still stood quietly in front of Nan Gonghong.

  Chu Yixuan saw Yan Xijun and did not speak, a pair of narrow and long Danfeng eyes slightly narrowed, staring at her tightly, the cold air shot out from his eyes like the hard ice in winter, those black pupils were as cold as the stars on a cold night, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

  Then, Chu Yixuan sneered coldly and raised the hand holding the flying knife, slightly waving it. "Very well, if you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

  "Hold on," Nan Gong Hong, disregarding the sword at his neck, took a step forward to block Yan Xikun, looking at Chu Yixuan and saying: "This matter has nothing to do with you, don't harm innocent people. All of this was caused by me, whether you want to kill or punish me is up to you!"

  "Hmph, you can't even save yourself, yet you still worry about others when death is near. Your time of death has arrived, I will decide how to punish that despicable person, it's all calculated in my heart."

  "Hey, you'd better get out of here quickly!" Yan Xijun lowered her voice and said to Nangong Hong: "I'll cover for you!"

  Nangong Hong shook his head and lowered his voice, saying: "That dog emperor doesn't plan to let you off, staying here will only make your situation worse, why don't you escape with me, I'll take you out of the palace."

  Yan Xijun anxiously glanced at the wound on Nangong Hong's calf and said firmly, "No way, you're injured. How can you carry me? The Emperor won't do anything to me, don't worry!"

  "You two have said enough, I will end your lives now!" Chu Yixuan saw that the two of them were chatting as if no one else was present, their eyes seeming to hold no one else in esteem, and not even putting this emperor in their sights. In his anger, the flying knife in his hand shot towards Nan Gonghong's body.

  "Never mind me, escape quickly!" Yan Xijun swiftly pushed Nan Gonghong away, and the flying knife came towards her. When she already knew it was too late to dodge, she calmly closed her eyes.

  "Noble son," Nangong Hong looked at the flying knife heading towards Yan Xikun with a terrified expression, his heart burning with anxiety. He had wanted to reach out and save him, but seeing Chu Yixuan's calm and collected demeanor, a glint of sharp light flashed in his eyes, making him grit his teeth in hatred. A pain shot through his calf, and he could only silently gnash his teeth. In the end, he ruthlessly pulled out a smoke bomb from his bosom and threw it out, taking advantage of the distraction to make a swift escape.

  When the smoke filled the air, Yan Xijun resignedly closed her eyes, but she didn't wait for the expected pain. She only felt as if a gust of wind had swept across her face, and then heard a faint muffled hum.

  Yan Xijun opened her eyes in confusion, surrounded by smoke and fog. Although she couldn't see people or objects clearly in the distance, there was a figure crouching in front of her.

  When she saw the flying knife on General Wen Han's back, she immediately understood that it was he who had come forward to save her.

  Yan Xijun hurried over to help Wen Han up, asking with concern: "Wen Shuaiwei, are you alright? Thanks a lot just now!"

  He gave her a cold and distant glance, shook off her hand that was helping him up, covered the wound on his back, and slowly walked forward.

  "The thief has escaped, come on, go and chase!"

  The faintly audible sharp voice of Luo Zhong came from not far away, Yan Xijun knew that Nangong Hong had escaped, and her heart was also put down. She followed the sound of Luo Zhong's voice and walked over.

  As the smoke dispersed, Yan Xijun found that in the large courtyard, only Chu Yixuan and Luo Zhong were left, while the other guards had chased after Nan Gonghong.

  Chu Yixuan coldly stared at her, and she didn't back down either, raising her eyes to look straight at him.

  "My good concubine, you've gone to great lengths to let him escape. Are you afraid I'll kill him?" The two locked eyes for a moment before Chu Yixuan spoke up, his voice cold and mocking.

  "Yes!"

  Chu Yixuan was furious upon hearing this and suddenly jumped in front of her, "What is your relationship with him?"

  "I didn't say so earlier, we're just friends."

  "How dare you still deceive me at this point? I'll ask again, what's your relationship with him? And who is he?"

  "I'll say it again, a friend! As for his identity, I'm not quite clear and can't answer your question." Yan Xijun didn't dare to tell him Nan Gonghong's name. She thought it was better not to reveal Nan Gonghong's information to Chu Yixuan, lest Chu Yixuan became suspicious and investigated the assassination attempt last time.

  "You're so concerned about him, you cheap person?" Chu Yixuan's hand rose in annoyance, and Bai Zhanxu's hand swung down without mercy, slapping a crisp sound, leaving a five-fingered mark on Yan Xijun's delicate face.

  Yan Xijun never expected him to get angry and hit her, her body was suddenly knocked to the ground by this surge of force, covering her face with a burning pain, this slap was not light at all. However, she didn't hate him, if this could be considered a punishment, then she was lucky in misfortune.

  Chu Yixuan himself did not expect that he would take action, he thought he was a very cultivated emperor and a calm ruler, but why since meeting her, she always made him angry, he was even repeatedly angered by her to the point of being out of breath.

  Looking at his left hand, Chu Yixuan was a little unbelievable. He glanced again at Yan Xijun who had fallen to the ground and saw that she wasn't crying or making a fuss, but was quietly sitting there with her head down, her expression unseen.

  Seeing her so calm, the fire in Chu Yuxuan's heart burned again. He squatted down, lifted her chin and pinched it hard: "You wretch, why don't you beg for mercy? If you beg for mercy or tell me the identity of that thief, I might be pleased and let you off this time, not bothering with you anymore."

  "I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness, I have nothing more to say, and will accept whatever punishment you decide!"

  "Fine, Yan Xijun, you refused to drink the toast and now you'll have to drink the punishment wine! Fine, I'll grant your wish!" Chu Yixuan released her chin, stood up, beckoned Luo Zhong over and coldly ordered: "Luo Zhong, take this wretched woman to the Cold Palace immediately. Without my imperial decree, she will never be allowed to step out of the Cold Palace again!"

  Chu Yixuan finished speaking and didn't look at Yan Xijun again, with a cold expression on his handsome face, he strode away with a flick of his sleeve.