Xiu Ying and Jian Yu's happy cuddling session was over when a man dressed in all black popped out of nowhere and tried to stab Jian Yu from behind. Xiu Ying reacted quickly and kicked the man in his private area.
Hearing him groan in pain, Xiu Ying got up and hid Jian Yu behind her.
"Assassins! Guards!" she shouted for help.
Jian Yu's guards came running and surround the man dress in black. Xiu Ying than heard screams and shouts, calling for help from Emperor Huang's study room. She realizes that there is an attempt to assassinate Emperor Huang, and her father was in the study room with him. She was about to rush towards Emperor Huang's study room when a hand grabbed hold of her and pleaded, "Please don't go. Stay with me."
It was Jian Yu's hand that grabbed her, "I'm sorry, Ah Yu. I need to check on our fathers. Stay put right here, and I'll come back for you. Okay?"
Jian Yu didn't answer but gave Xiu Ying a nod. She then hugged him to reassure him that she will come back. Xiu Ying was about to get up and leave when a person's hand pushed her away and pull Jian Yu from her arms. It was Emperor Huang's eunuch Bo Lin. He scowls at Xiu Ying as if she was a threat and steps back. "Guards! Protect the prince from this traitor!"
Xiu Ying glared at eunuch Bo Lin for being rude and accusing her of being a traitor. Some guards turned and faced Xiu Ying, even the Emperor's most trusted guard Wei Yan was there. Xiu Ying's bodyguard, Jin Hai, saw that she was in a difficult situation and came out of the shadows to protect her.
"What is this all about?"
"You should know very well, miss Xiu Ying. You're minister Song's daughter, after all."
"Know what? Where is my father? Explain to me right this instant."
"Alright, since you want me to tell you. Your father, minister Song had killed the Emperor and Empress of this country, along with the first prince in the study room. The daughter of a traitor and murder of the prince's family doesn't have a right to hug him."
A blow after another blow. Xiu Ying felt her heart drop to the ground. 'This can't be happening. Father had always been loyal to Emperor Huang; there's no way father would do something like that.'
"Attack!" eunuch Bo Lin order the guards while Xiu Ying was still stunned.
Xiu Ying defended herself from the guard's attacks, "Stop! There must be some misunderstanding."
"I'm sorry, but there's no misunderstanding, miss Xiu Ying," scoffed eunuch Bo Lin.
"Don't...don't hurt big sister Xiu Ying." Jian Yu struggled to get out of eunuch Bo Lin's arms.
"Little Prince, please don't protect her, her father was the one who murdered your family. We have to go now!"
"No. I don't want to go; I want to stay with big sister Xiu Ying."
Eunuch Bo Lin then knocked Jian Yu unconscious and carried him away. Xiu Ying was still in shock, trying to avoid the guards attacking her.
"Miss, we have to leave now. There are too many guards."
"No. I won't leave without Jian Yu!"
Xiu Ying chased after eunuch Bo Lin. "Thud!", an arrow was shot into her chest. Xiu Ying fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
"Miss!" Jin Hai rushed towards Xiu Ying, who lay emotionlessly on the ground.
Jin Hai then carried Xiu Ying to minister Song and called for a doctor. She was lucky that the arrow had missed her heart. If not, she would have died instantly when the arrow hit her.
Xiu Ying woke up from a coma after two days to an unfamiliar. 'Ugh, my chest hurts. What happened? Where am I?'
"Hurry! Go get the Emperor; princess Xiu Ying has woken up." Xiu Ying heard a voice. 'Princess?' she questioned, massaging her head.
Memories of two nights ago flashed before her eyes. 'No...it can't be,' she thought to herself. Her father then walked in anxiously and hugged her.
"Xiu Ying! My precious Xiu Ying! You've finally have woken up. I thought I had lost you."
"Father? Or should I call you Emperor Song?"
"Xiu Ying..."
"Get out. I don't want to see you."
"Xiu Ying, I am sorry...one day, you'll understand why."
"I don't understand. I should have died to repent for your sins."
Xiu Ying felt a sharp pain through her chest when she got out of bed. She unsteadily walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to find Jian Yu."
"You won't be able to find him..."
"What did you do to him!!!"
"I....."
"Jin Hai!"
Jin Hai came into the room feeling uncomfortable. "Where is Jian Yu?" Xiu Ying asked him. Jin Hai was reluctant to answer. He then saw Emperor Song gave him a nod allowing him to answer Xiu Ying's question.
"He... while escaping eunuch Bo Lin and second prince Jian Yu fell into the river. This morning, some villagers found two bodies washed ashore, one body belonged to a boy, and the other belongs to a man in his middle forties. It... seems to be them."
"It can't be."
"I'm sorry, princess."
Xiu Ying felt disgusted being called princess. "Get out! Both of you get out!"
Emperor Song and Jin Hai went out of her room. Xiu Ying broke down next to the bed and wept silently.