After dealing with the Emperor, Su Yan tried to stand up.
Without a trace of strength in her body, she could barely maintain her posture.
She pursed her lips and looked again at the Emperor, who was covered in blood.
Little Red, drawing an S-shape, wandered over to Su Yan, a white cloak still perched on its head.
"Hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss"
Su Yan reached out to take the cloak, draping it over herself, yet even this simple action left her drained of energy afterward.
She hung her head, feeling somewhat disheartened.
How would she make her way back?
Just at that moment, a commotion suddenly arose from outside.
The noise wasn’t loud, but because the room was quiet, it could be faintly heard.
The next second, bang!
The door was kicked open.
Leading the way was Nantang, followed by a group of black-clad Hidden Guards appearing at the doorway.
Immediately after them, Prince Xuanyuan Yonghao strode in with swift steps.
His face was cold and frightening.
His eyes, deep and carrying a trace of fierceness, made one’s heart tremble with just a glance.
When he saw the dozen snakes on the floor, all raising their heads vigilantly to look at them, his eyebrows raised.
The hostility he was emanating seemed to lessen a bit.
His gaze swept over the blood-covered figure on the ground, barely recognizable.
Then he turned to look at Su Yan, who was sitting at the edge of the bed.
Her eyes were moist, and upon seeing Xuanyuan Yonghao appear, a hint of happiness appeared on her face.
Next to Su Yan stood a snake, patterned in black and red, as thick as an arm.
Upon closer inspection... it looked somewhat familiar.
The snake seemed to recognize Xuanyuan Yonghao too; upon seeing him, it hissed fiercely with its red tongue flickering, its large eyes like lanterns, trying to intimidate him.
It seemed to be attempting to frighten him.
Xuanyuan Yonghao stepped forward, but Nantang reached out to stop him.
"Your Highness"
"It’s fine."
As his voice fell, Xuanyuan Yonghao had already walked into the pile of snakes.
Moving past the group of snakes, he arrived beside the bed, coming up to Su Yan.
He towered over her, his face bearing not the slightest smile, his gaze deep as he looked at her.
"Didn’t you hear what I said?"
Su Yan was first startled, then remembered that this afternoon, before he left, he had told her not to leave the courtyard, no matter who came to invite her, and to wait for his return before doing anything.
But, but... she had completely forgotten about it.
Su Yan hung her head, like someone who had done something wrong.
"I... I forgot."
Xiao Hua also wanted to go out, so did she, and she hadn’t anticipated that the Emperor would harm her.
As Su Yan stood by the bed, the cloak had just barely covered her shoulders. As she hung her head and fidgeted with her sleeve, the cloak she had just put on fell onto the bed.
Then... the seductive figure of Su Yan in a red dress, silhouettes faintly revealed through the gossamer fabric, was exposed before Xuanyuan Yonghao.
The next second, Xuanyuan Yonghao’s face darkened.
His voice carried more anger than before
"Turn around!"
All the Hidden Guards, including Nantang behind him, turned as one, no longer glancing inside.
As he spoke, he took off his outer robe.
Su Yan thought he was talking to her, about to turn her head, when he wrapped her entirely in his outer robe.
And lifted her in his arms.
Su Yan, with wide eyes, her gaze moist,
Xuanyuan Yonghao glared at her,
"Deliberately dressing so provocatively, here to seduce Father Emperor?"
He was practically grinding his teeth as he spoke.
All traces of grace and gentleness vanished.
Su Yan quickly shook her head,
"A eunuch told me to wear this and come claim a reward..."
As she spoke, her voice trailed off.
In the moment, she hadn’t sensed anything amiss.
But, looking back now, it seemed like there were many loopholes.