As night fell, the thick darkness spread wildly. Layer upon layer of dark clouds, like a heavy curtain, completely blocked out the moonlight. The entire imperial palace was swallowed up by the darkness. The palaces, which were resplendent with gold and jade during the day, now only showed blurred outlines, looming in the dark like prehistoric beasts lying in wait, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. The towering palace walls wound and turned, exuding a cold and solemn atmosphere in this deathly still night, as if silently proclaiming the majesty and inviolability of the royal family. However, an earth - shattering crisis that could shake the court was quietly approaching.
A black shadow flashed over the palace wall at great speed, as fast as a shooting star in the night. Its movements were light and agile, just like a nimble black panther. After a few deft leaps, it disappeared soundlessly into the shadows of the palaces, leaving only a fleeting gust of wind, as if it had never been there at all. This person was the leader of this assassination mission. He carried out a secret and ulterior motive, and was ruthless and unscrupulous in achieving his goals.
This assassin exuded a terrifyingly cold and murderous aura. His face was covered by a black cloth, leaving only a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle's, shining with a cold light in the darkness, like the eyes of a wolf in the cold night. He precisely locked onto the direction of the palace where Li Yi and the prince lived, and then, like a ghost, he shuttled quickly through the shadows of the palaces. Each step was as light as stepping on soft cotton, and there was almost no sound between the sole of his shoe and the ground, as if he was part of the darkness itself, approaching the target silently. "Assassins!" A sharp cry suddenly pierced the stillness of the night, echoing in the vast imperial palace for a long time. It turned out to be a patrolling guard who accidentally caught a glimpse of the black shadow at the corner of the palace. His heart jolted, a chill shot up his spine, and his hair stood on end. Instinctively, he shouted out the alarm at the top of his lungs.
In an instant, the alarm bells in the imperial palace rang out. The dull and urgent sound echoed continuously in the night sky, completely shattering the original silence. Immediately, guards from all over the palace sprang into action. Lanterns were quickly lit one after another, and dots of star - like flames ignited everywhere in the palace like a prairie fire. In just a short while, the entire imperial palace was ablaze with light, as bright as day.
Lin Yue was resting in her quarters. The moment she heard the commotion, her originally calm face turned cold and serious. Without the slightest hesitation, she quickly got up and drew her long sword from the scabbard beside her in one swift motion. The blade glinted with a cold light under the illumination of the lamp. Then, she deftly put on her battle armor, each movement crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.
Then, like a black bolt of lightning, she rushed towards the scene of the incident at full speed, creating a howling wind as she went. When she arrived, dozens of assassins had already surrounded the sleeping quarters of Li Yi and the prince. These assassins held sharp blades, their eyes filled with ferocity and determination. Their attacks were as fierce as hungry wolves, and they were closing in on the sleeping quarters step by step. The air around seemed to have solidified due to the tense atmosphere, and every wisp of breeze carried a murderous aura. The guards also reacted extremely quickly and formed a defensive formation in a very short time. They held their long spears, with the tips facing outward, and stood closely together, forming an impregnable line of defense. The stone - paved ground in front of the palace was struck by the weapons of both sides, creating countless sparks that fell into the surrounding grass, causing a slight rustling sound. As the assassins continued to approach, the two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
For a time, the light of swords and blades flashed and intertwined, the sound of metal clashing never ceased, and the shouts of battle were so deafening that it hurt the eardrums. Lin Yue held her long sword and shuttled back and forth on the battlefield like a gust of wind. Her swordsmanship was fierce and swift, and every sword strike carried a powerful momentum. The howling sword wind forced back one assassin after another. At this moment, she had only one unwavering belief in her heart: no matter the cost, she must protect the safety of the royal family. This was not only her duty as a guard but also the mission of her life.
Inside the sleeping quarters, Li Yi and the prince watched the battle outside through the window with great tension. As an emperor, Li Yi had experienced countless ups and downs in the court on a daily basis, but facing an assassination at such close range for the first time, he broke out in a cold sweat due to the sudden turn of events. His brows were tightly furrowed into a "Chuan" - shaped frown, and his eyes were filled with deep anxiety and worry. Outside the window, the cold wind howled, making the window lattice rattle slightly, adding to the tense atmosphere.
The prince clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. There was a blazing flame of anger in his eyes, and his heart was filled with unwillingness. Young and impulsive, he was eager to rush out with a weapon in hand and fight the enemy to protect himself and his father. However, Li Yi firmly held him back, his eyes full of determination. "You can't go out. This is the safest place, and I won't let you take risks." Although the prince was reluctant, seeing his father's determined gaze, he could only stop reluctantly.
The assassins' attacks became more and more ferocious. It seemed that they had received some extremely strict orders and charged forward at all costs. During the intense battle, several guards gradually ran out of strength, were wounded in many places, and their clothes were stained red with blood. Finally, they fell in a pool of blood, and their lives faded away like a candle in the wind. The strong smell of blood filled the battlefield, mixed with the smell of dust, making people nauseous.
Lin Yue was extremely worried when she saw her wounded and fallen comrades. A strong sense of responsibility and mission welled up in her heart. She knew that if they couldn't repel these assassins as soon as possible and let them break through the defense line, the consequences would be unimaginable, and the entire royal family would face destruction. Thinking of this, she took a deep breath to calm herself down, then let out a loud shout, and her whole body's aura suddenly increased. She then unleashed the unique skills she had painstakingly practiced for many years. Her long sword was like a dragon emerging from the sea, with sword shadows flashing and cold light shining everywhere. Every sword strike carried great power, instantly forcing back several assassins around her. Her fierce swordsmanship made the assassins feel afraid.
Just when the situation reached a stalemate and neither side could gain the upper hand, the sound of orderly and hasty footsteps came from a distance.
It turned out that the troops stationed outside the palace, upon hearing the news of the palace being attacked, rushed to the rescue under the leadership of the general. Their steps were in unison, and their momentum was menacing. The weapons in their hands glinted with a cold light under the illumination of the fire. The moonlight shone on their armor, reflecting a silvery - white glow, like an iron and steel torrent surging forward. When the assassins heard this sound, their faces changed dramatically, realizing that the situation had gotten out of their control.
Their attacks became disorganized, and their originally tight formation gradually loosened, showing signs of panic.
Lin Yue keenly observed this change, promptly seized the opportunity, and shouted with authority: "Reinforcements have arrived! Everyone, follow me for a counterattack!" Her voice was clear, loud, and resonant, echoing like a mighty bell across the battlefield.
Then, taking the lead, she led the guards and the reinforcements in launching a fierce counterattack against the assassins. The dust on the ground was kicked up by everyone's footsteps, forming a hazy cloud of dust. Under the illumination of the fire, it was like a tragic picture of war.With the concerted efforts of everyone, the assassins were forced back step by step and were finally driven out of the imperial palace.
This thrilling assassination attempt has finally come to an end, and the palace is in a complete mess. The ground was covered with bloodstains and disordered weapons, and the corpses of some assassins and guards lay haphazardly on the ground.
Lin Yue and the surviving guards collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Their bodies were covered in dust and sweat, and the pain from their wounds distorted their faces, but there was a smile of victory on their faces. Li Yi and the prince walked out of the sleeping quarters. Looking at these heroic guards, their hearts were filled with gratitude.
Li Yi personally walked up to Lin Yue and reached out to help her up, his eyes full of approval. "Thanks to all of you, the royal family has been kept safe. I will surely reward you handsomely." Lin Yue slightly bowed, a modest look on her face. "It is our duty to protect Your Majesty and the prince. We dare not take credit." Her voice was tired, but it carried a hint of firmness.
After this battle, security in the imperial palace was strengthened. More guards were added to each entrance and exit, and the frequency of patrols was greatly increased. And Lin Yue's heroic deeds quickly spread throughout the palace and became the talk of the town.
But everyone understood that this was just the calm before the storm, and greater crises might lie ahead. Lin Yue looked at the night sky, feeling a vague sense of worry in her heart. She knew that the peaceful days were probably gone forever. What kind of challenges awaited them in the future? She tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, and a trace of determination showed in her eyes. No matter what lay ahead, she would face it bravely.
It turned out that these assassins were instigated by a treacherous court official with ulterior motives. This powerful official coveted Li Yi's throne and wanted to replace him. Therefore, he spared no expense in hiring these famous assassins from the martial arts world, hoping to succeed in this night's attempt and completely change the political situation in the court.
After the assassins were discovered, although the leader of the assassins was shocked, he quickly calmed down. He decisively gave a signal, indicating to his companions to speed up their actions and complete the assassination mission before the reinforcements arrived.
So, disregarding their lives, the assassins launched a frenzied attack on the guards, and the situation became even more critical for a time. During the intense fight, the trees in front of the palace were slashed by the sword qi, and their branches and leaves flew everywhere. The surrounding buildings were also damaged to varying degrees in this chaotic battle, with stone chips flying around, adding to the tension and chaos. During the intense battle, a young guard was stabbed by an assassin's blade while protecting Lin Yue. He fell into Lin Yue's arms and said weakly, "Miss Lin, you must protect His Majesty and the prince..."
Looking at his eyes that were gradually losing their luster, Lin Yue was filled with great grief. At the same time, an even stronger fighting spirit welled up in her heart. The shouts of battle around seemed to fade away at this moment, and only the anger and determination in her heart
became clearer.
On the other side, the prince paced anxiously in the sleeping quarters. He was unwilling to just hide inside. He secretly picked up a sword and tried to rush out to join the battle when Li Yi wasn't looking. Just as he was about to open the door, Li Yi noticed his actions.
"Son, what are you doing?" Li Yi asked sternly. The prince turned around, his eyes full of unwillingness. "Father, I can't just stand by and watch everyone fight to protect us. I also want to go out and fight!" Li Yi looked at his son's determined eyes, feeling both gratified and worried.
"You are the hope of the royal family, and I can't let you take risks," Li Yi said earnestly. "But I know you have the courage and sense of responsibility. After this crisis is over, I will teach you how to become a true emperor." Although the prince was still reluctant, he silently put down the sword.
As the battle continued, Lin Yue gradually discovered the weaknesses of the assassins. Although they were highly skilled in martial arts, there were some flaws in their coordination. So, while engaging with the assassins, she looked for an opportunity to deal them a fatal blow. The surrounding environment became her aid. She cleverly used the terrain such as the stone pillars and steps of the palace to nimbly dodge the assassins' attacks and find their weak points.
Finally, at the critical moment when the reinforcements arrived, Lin Yue spotted a flaw in the leader of the assassins. She unleashed her most powerful sword move. A flash of cold light passed, and the leader of the assassins' arm was cut. When the other assassins saw this, their morale plummeted, and they began to panic. At this moment, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the entire battlefield and also reflecting Lin Yue's determined face.
After the reinforcements joined the battle, the situation quickly turned around. With the concerted efforts of everyone, the assassins were finally successfully repelled. Although this crisis was temporarily averted, Lin Yue knew that the road ahead was still long. They must remain vigilant at all times to face more unknown challenges.