04. Just at ths time, the soldier feebly lying int he corner, guard Li suddenly jumped up and charged towards the imperial consort with a dagger; the people of the courtyard, crying out in alarm, but unable to save her in time…!

But just when everyone was sure the imperial consort was done for, there was a ma.s.sive clanging sound, and the soldier Li fell to the ground. The wreckage around him seemed to be a high stool…

And the one who had thrown the stool at this moment happened to be Yun Ge!

The two eunuchs ran up front, one protecting the imperial consort, another checking Guard Li’s nose for breath, slowly saying, “Still alive.”

The imperial consort recovered, ordering, “Tie him up!” And looked deeply at Yun Ge as she returned to the prime spot as the mistress of the yard.

There was no time to say anything, when outside the guards cried out with happiness, “The prince! The prince has brought reinforcements, brothers, we must hold out!”

The people in the court heard this, and feeling their hearts relax, felt an unrealistic hope.

Yun Ge quietly let out a sigh, fortunately they had come; it seemed like her luck wasn’t bad, what a good thing she hadn’t tried to slip any jewels!

The bandits outside saw this turn as being for the worse, and panicked; the man who had laughed wildly outside suddenly cried, “Li Kai! I have broguth revenge for your brothers, what are you doing inside?”

The guards were shocked. Li Kai was that soldier inside the court! Then the imperial consort…just as they were in shock and suspicion, the gates of the courtyard swung open, and a tied up LI Kai was dragged out and thrown out in front of the door like a dog.

The guards, seeing this, were more resolute than ever to fight. The bandits, seeing their great advantage lost, began to flee.

The head of the bandits had just charged to the front of the gate when he saw a flash of white light before his eyes; a cold wind flas.h.i.+ng past him. He dashed to the left – but it was too late. His right shoulder hurt immensely and an arm was sliced off, fresh blood spilling violently. The head of the bandits gave a cry and fainted on the spot.

In front of the gate was an elegant gentleman in purple, standing in the pleasant breeze. If it were not for the blood stained longsword in his hand, no one would have been able to tell that the gentle young man, with a smile on the edges of his lips, was the man who could inflict such a brutal wound.

The bandits, seeing their boss fallen with just a blow, had all thoughts of battle wiped from their minds, in the time that it took to drink a small cup of tea, they were surrounded by the reinforcements the prince had brought.

The purple-clad gentleman gave it to soldier next to him with a toss and walked to the front of the  gate, calling out, “Esteemed mother, please forgive your son for arriving so late!”

The gates of the courtyard groaned open, and in the misty moonlight, the purple-clad figure was deeply ingrained in everyone’s eyes and hearts. A few girls, having been terrified out of their wits, now saw this handsome heo appear before them, and thinking that this was their master the Prince Zhao Jianshen of the country of Ji, felt ripples of both shock and happiness in their young hearts.

YUn Ge’s conscience fiercely spoke up, and she could not resist muttering, “Scourge.” (The cause of all these problems).

Zhao Jianshen, wrinkling his brow gazed over the wine cups and ignored the bows of the girls, rapidly walking towards the imperial consort and kneeling, his hands on the imperial consort’s knees trembling almost imperceptible. Just a little later, and he would have been separated from his mother forever!

Regardless of how strong a person is, they would be unable to bear such a thing!

The imperial consort reached out her hands to smooth out her son’s hair, smiling warmly, kindly as she said, “MOther is fine, mother is fine, I’m just glad you’re here. As long as my son is here, no one can hurt me.”

Mother Zhang, seeing the kindness on her mistress’ hair, could not resist wiping the teardrops at the edges ofher eyes; then, thinking of what strife there must be within the village, quickly straightened herself and found the head of the guard, arranging to send the girls who had been half-scared to death back to rest.

YUn Ge, worried for so long, upon hearing that she could now rest, happily followed the soldiers away, oblivious to the two eyes staring at her meaningfully from behind.

Returning to her own little courtyard, the soldiers checked to make sure no bandits had found their way in, and then left.

Yun Ge really wanted to just collapse on the bed and take a big nap, but she still could not help boiling a pot of water to wash up. Lying wrapped in her warm blankets, Yun Ge managed to enter a discussion with Zhou Gong (???a reference to some type of Sandman, maybe?) and slept dreamlessly until noon.

A petty servant can sleep peacefully, a person of higher standing does not have that sort of luxury.

After guiding his mother to rest, Zhao Jianshen immediately had his subordinates relate the events of the day.

Because only the southern cloister could be considered relatively whole, compared to the rest of the palace, Zhao Shenjian used the library in the southern cloister as a temporary office.

After listening to the soldiers report on how the soldiers had been injured, questioning fabout the circ.u.mstances, Zhao Jianshen surddenly furrowed his brow and asked Mother ZHang (who had just entered), “Do people come to read books here often?”

Mother Zhang froze and followed Zhao Jianshen’s gaze, and saw a book (a.n.a.lysis on Agriculture/Plowing) by the window, and apologetically said, “I’m sorry, I forgot to clean up; this is something that Miss Yun Ge likes to read.”

The prince smiled lightly. “Mother Zhang, doon’t worry, today’s incidence must have tired you.”

Moter Zhang bowed her head, glad that the prince could appreciate her labor.

“Yun Ge? Was she that girl who saved mother today?” Zhao Jianshen gently drummed his fingers against the wooden table, still looking at the book.

This girl’s interest in books was really a little too weird.

Mother Zhang took the book (already at least read through by at least half) and found that there was another book underneath  it, this one on the proper etiquette for young ladies. Zhao Jianshen rifled through the books, and found among the pages a small sheet with a strange, roughly drawn face, sticking out its tongue in a quite comical fas.h.i.+on.

Mother Zhang also saw the picture, and her lips curled unconsciously in a smile.