Chapter 44: The Ultimate Counterattack, A New Journey Awaits

"Yunsheng!" I reacted instantly, pulling him toward me just as the tip of a sword grazed my arm, leaving a burning sensation.

Hiss, these men in black really don't hold back!

I'm no pushover, though. I snatched some stones from the ground and pelted them in the face. "How dare you bully my cash cow? How dare you outnumber us!"

"Sister, are you alright?"贺云笙 looked at me with worry in his eyes, reaching out to check my wound.

"Just a minor scratch, piece of cake!" I waved my hand dismissively. What was a little wound like this? Years ago, when I was trying to snatch a pastry, I fell straight off a palace wall and came out completely unscathed.

"Protect yourself! Leave the rest to your sister!"

These men in black were skilled in martial arts, but compared to the combat techniques I learned in the modern world, they still fell a bit short.

I nimbly wove between them, treating them to the occasional shoulder throw and roundhouse kick, catching them completely off guard.

"Sister, you're amazing!"贺云笙 watched from the side, utterly dumbfounded, his eyes filled with adoration.

"Of course! Look who your sister is!" I proudly lifted my chin. Taking advantage of a moment when one of the assassins was stunned, I snatched the sword from his hand, spun it in a dazzling arc, and pointed the blade straight at the leader. "Speak! Who sent you?"

The assassin merely sneered and refused to talk.

I let out a cold laugh. "Playing tough, are you? Don't blame me for being ungracious!" Just as I was about to teach him a lesson, a hurried sound of footsteps echoed from afar, accompanied by a loud shout: "Stop! All of you, stop!"

It was none other than the commander of the Imperial Guard, leading a troop that surrounded the assassins tightly.

Looks like my backup had arrived!

I breathed a sigh of relief, dropped the sword to the ground, and walked over to贺云笙. "It's alright now, Yunsheng."

The assassins were taken into custody by the Imperial Guard, which finally gave me a chance to tend to the wound on my arm.

贺云笙 carefully bandaged it for me, his eyes filled with distress. "Sister, does it hurt?"

I shook my head. "What's a little scratch like this? I'm destined to become a powerful woman of the palace!"

After dealing with the wound, I followed the Imperial Guard commander to an audience with the Emperor.

The Emperor showered high praise on my heroic actions and rewarded me with plenty of gold, silver, and jewels.

Naturally, I accepted them with a smile, blooming with joy inside.

"Wan'er, you have rendered a great service this time. I shall reward you handsomely," the Emperor said, looking at me with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" I hurriedly knelt to express my gratitude.

"I have decided to appoint you as the head of the imperial court ladies!" the Emperor announced.

"What?!" I raised my head in astonishment. Head of the imperial court ladies? That was a lucrative and powerful position!

"Wan'er, congratulations!"贺云笙 was genuinely happy for me too.

I was so excited I almost jumped. My goal was one step closer!

With the assassins dealt with and a promotion secured, I was in a fantastic mood and decided to treat myself and贺云笙 to a proper feast.

We headed to the finest restaurant in the palace, ordered a table full of dishes, and chatted as we ate.

"Sister, what are your plans for the future?"贺云笙 asked me.

"To keep working hard and making money, of course, and achieve my little goal as soon as possible!" I answered without hesitation.

贺云笙 smiled. "I believe you can do it."

We ate, talked, and enjoyed a most harmonious atmosphere.

Right at that moment, I noticed a few people at the next table acting suspiciously, as if plotting something.

I perked up my ears and listened closely to their conversation...

"This operation must succeed, or we'll all die..." one of them muttered in a low voice.

My heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition washed over me...

This voice...

Why did it sound so familiar?

I narrowed my eyes and tried to identify it. That voice...

It was Imperial Physician Zhang!

Wasn't he always helping me?

Could he be part of the hidden faction as well?

I drew a sharp breath. This plot twist was thrilling!

No, I had to find out what was going on!

I quietly crept closer and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"This plan must be foolproof. We must eliminate Lu Wan'er and贺云笙!" Imperial Physician Zhang said viciously.

Well, well! So they wanted to wipe out me and Yunsheng!

I clenched my fists. It seemed this old fellow was no simple character!

"Imperial Physician Zhang, are you sure this will succeed? The last plan failed, and we suffered heavy losses!" another person worriedly asked.

"Rest assured, I've made full preparations this time! I've already poisoned their food; it will guarantee they die without a sound!" Imperial Physician Zhang laughed sinisterly.

Poison?

A chill ran through my heart. Good thing I hadn't eaten much yet!

I quietly retreated and told贺云笙 everything I had heard.

贺云笙 was equally shocked. "Imperial Physician Zhang? How could it be him?"

"You can know a person's face, but not their heart! Good thing we discovered it in time, or we'd be done for!" I said, still shaken.

"Sister, what should we do now?"贺云笙 asked.

"Play them at their own game and let them reap what they've sown!" A flash of cunning lightened my eyes.

I sent贺云笙 to find the commander of the Imperial Guard and inform him of Imperial Physician Zhang's conspiracy.

Upon hearing this, the commander flew into a rage and immediately led his men to arrest Imperial Physician Zhang and his accomplices.

With stolen goods and solid evidence caught in the act, Imperial Physician Zhang and the others had no choice but to confess to their crimes.

When the Emperor learned of this, he flew into a imperial fury and ordered Imperial Physician Zhang and his cohorts to be executed.

The hidden faction was thoroughly uprooted.贺云笙 and I were richly rewarded by the Emperor with vast amounts of treasures and further promotions for our meritorious service.

贺云笙 and I hosted a grand banquet in the palace to celebrate our victory.

At the banquet, we danced gracefully, basking in hard-won happiness.

However, just as we were immersed in joy, a palace maid hurried over, handed me a letter, and said, "Lord Lu, someone asked me to give this to you."

I took the letter and opened it. Inside was a single sentence:

"The new game has begun..."

My smile instantly froze.