The court had ended, but Li Jun's mood hung heavy like storm clouds. She wandered alone through the Imperial Garden watching the peonies sway gently in the breeze.
Thump!
A shadow stumbled out from behind the rockery and crashed straight into her.
"You… You're the… fake eunuch… assassin!" Li Jun shouted.
The nearby guards rushed over, spears at the ready. Li Jun pointed straight at the figure. "Surround him! Don't let him escape!"
The man spun around, looking for an opening to flee, but the guards closed in quickly. One tried to grab him, but he ducked under the arm and dashed toward the peony bushes.
The shouts of clashing steel echoed through the Imperial Garden. The guards struggled to contain the fake eunuch, who was fast, agile, and clearly skilled in martial arts. His movements were sharp as a hawk's, slipping through the guards' reach and countering with swift kicks.
Just then, a maid came running from the covered walkway, clutching a basket filled with peaches and pears. Her face lit up when she saw Li Jun.
She handed the basket to Li Jun, then snatched a serving tray from the maid beside her and hiked up her skirts before joining the fray, swinging the tray like a shield.
The empress arched a brow at her enthusiasm, then looked down at the basket. Nestled among the peaches was a small fruit knife, the blade shining in the sunlight.
Perfect.
She took the knife, weighed it in her palm, and with a sharp flick. Whizz! sent it flying.
A sharp cry rang out. Everyone froze.
.…Where did it go? Li Jun's eyes narrowed as she scanned the garden.
The assassin blinked in confusion… Meanwhile, the maid stood frozen, clutching her thigh with a pained expression.
"…Your Majesty," the maid whimpered, "I think you got the wrong person…"
"…Ah." Li Jun stared.
The assassin, momentarily distracted by the ridiculous turn of events, was swiftly knocked unconscious by a guard's strike to the back of the head.
A muscle in Li Jun's jaw twitched. "Someone get her to the Imperial Physician," she said through gritted teeth.
Several nearby maids hurried forward, supporting the brave maid on the way to the Imperial Clinic.
The guards dragged the fake eunuch forward, forcing him to kneel before the Empress. Li Jun's lips curved into a cold smile. "Hehe… finally, you are caught."
At her signal, the guards searched the assassin from head to toe. From within the folds of his robe, they pulled out a small red pouch.
Li Jun took it, loosened the drawstring, and the bitter-sweet scent of the powder inside instantly struck her memory. "Is this the aphrodisiac from last night?"
She flicked her fingers toward the guards. "Feed it to him. All of it."
An hour later, as the sun slid lower in the sky, a guard hurried back to the Empress in the Imperial Garden, dropping to one knee. "Your Majesty… the assassin is dead."
Li Jun set down her teacup, her expression tightening. "From the drug?"
The guard nodded, sweat beading on his brow. "Yes, Your Majesty. The aphrodisiac overwhelmed her heart."
Li Jun watched the ripples in the koi pond, her mind drifting elsewhere. Damn… so an aphrodisiac can actually kill a person. Fortunately, the expired anti-poison pill had still work in my body. A chill pricked her skin at the thought.
If last night I hadn't helped Shen Yuqin… She cut the thought short, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
"Mm. Then remove his body. Let this be a warning to those who think of stepping into my palace uninvited."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
---
"Hong Yi, where is Commander Shen?" Li Jun asked, lazily leaning back on her recliner, one hand propping up her cheek.
"Your Majesty didn't know? Commander Shen has requested a week's leave from the Empress Dowager," Hong Yi replied carefully.
"What? A week?" Her brows knitted in disbelief. "Where did she go?"
Hong Yi hesitated. "The Empress Dowager said some of Commander Shen's relatives came to the capital. She went to stay in the city for a few days to visit them."
Li Jun pursed her lips, a faint pout forming. She knew, Shen Yuqing was still angry about that night. Hmmpphh…That stubborn girl.
She already missed her and wanted to coax her. For now, all she could do was wait until her anger subsided… and perhaps find an excuse to "accidentally" bump into her when she returned.
"Your Majesty… a maid named Dou'er is looking for you. I told her Your Majesty is busy, but she's still kneeling," Xiao Diaozi reported.
Li Jun tilted her head, then her eyes lit with recognition. "Oh… let her in."
Dou'er shuffled in, still limping slightly. She knelt before Li Jun, head lowered.
Li Jun's gaze dropped to her leg. "How's your injury?"
"It's nothing serious, Your Majesty," She replied quickly, though her voice trembled a little.
Li Jun rose from her seat, walking closer. "I owe you an apology. You were brave enough to help catch the assassin, yet it was my own knife that injured you."
She paused, lips quirking faintly. "It's only fair I reward you for that courage… and for putting up with my bad aim."
Dou'er shook her head. "Your Majesty, I've heard you're looking for a female imperial guard. Please… allow me to serve as your guard."
The Empress hesitated. Recruitment of imperial guards was Shen Yuqing's responsibility, and she didn't want to overstep. But she had already promised to reward her bravery.
"Alright," Li Jun finally said. "You may start working as my guard."
Dou'er's face lit up, and she bowed again and again, unable to hide her excitement.
---
Who would have thought that Dou'er was such an energetic girl? Her bright and open personality soon made her a fun conversation partner for the Empress, reminding Li Jun of her friends from the modern world she had left behind.
However, Dou'er quickly became an unexpected enemy to Hong Yi. Not only did she start handling matters of Li Jun's security, but she also took over some of Hong Yi's duties in attending to Li Jun. From helping her dress to serving tea, Dou'er seemed eager to do everything.
Li Jun, too busy with state affairs, didn't notice the growing tension between her attendants. To her, Dou'er was simply a cheerful and entertaining presence that made her days in the palace a little less dull.
"The day is so hot, Your Majesty. I made sour plum soup for you… please try it," Dou'er said coquettishly, holding the spoon to Li Jun's lips.
Li Jun simply opened her mouth with a casual "ahh" while her eyes stayed on the documents in front of her. She took a sip, gave a faint hum of approval, and returned to work.
The two of them sat like that for a while, she feeding her bit by bit, and Li Jun occasionally chuckling at something in the reports.
That same day, Shen Yuqing returned from her leave. She had just learned that during her absence, the Empress had personally captured the fake eunuch, fulfilling her promise.
Guilt weighed heavily on her, she should have been there to protect Li Jun, but wasn't. Instead, she had been accompanying her master, who had come to the capital, and seeking her advice on a few martial arts techniques.
When she finally went to see Li Jun, her heart sank.
Through the open doors, she saw Dou'er leaning close, feeding her with a bright smile, while the Empress, focused on her work, accepted it without protest.
"Commander Shen, finally you're back. Her Majesty has been asking about you every day," Hong Yi greeted her with a mix of relief and frustration.
Then, following Shen Yuqing's gaze toward Dou'er, she added with a sigh, "She's Dou'er, the maid who helped Her Majesty capture the assassin.
"Now Her Majesty has accepted Dou'er as a private guard, but she's taken over all my duties and keeps trying to please her."
"Maid?" Shen Yuqing asked in a low voice. "From which palace?" Since the fake eunuch incident, she had been more cautious.
Hong Yi shook her head. "I don't know."
Shen Yuqing's brows furrowed. Was it a coincidence or something else?