Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

After having breakfast, Yan Zhen went to the Hibiscus Pond accompanied by palace maids and nannies.

Along the way, we encountered many concubines and princesses from various palaces, all of whom had heard that the lotus flowers in Furong Pond were blooming in the cold and dreary winter and had come to see the novelty.

When we arrived at Furong Pond, there were already quite a few people gathered around the pond.

Because of the introduction of hot spring water, the entire Furong Pool is shrouded in mist, and half of the pool is filled with blooming lotus flowers that stand gracefully on the water, like fairies who have transcended the mortal world.

Yan Zhen immediately noticed the emerald canopy blooming in the center of the pool.

She looked around and saw many flower servants busy by the pond, but she couldn't see that thin figure.

Before long, a eunuch's shrill voice announced, "His Majesty has arrived! Consort Shu has arrived!"

The concubines and princesses by the pool all turned around to pay their respects, and Yan Zhen was no exception.

"Everyone, get up."

Emperor Jin was just over forty years old. He was tall and upright, with a handsome and dignified appearance. His bright yellow dragon robe accentuated his imposing presence.

The most favored concubine, Consort Shu, who was only fifteen or sixteen years old, accompanied her. After paying her respects to the high-ranking concubines admiring the flowers by the pond, she walked to the pond with great interest and soon spotted the most special Emerald Canopy Flower.

"What is that?" Consort Shu asked, pointing to the emerald canopy and splendid decorations. "The color is so unique."

The steward of Furong Pond was a plump eunuch who hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, that is called Cui Gai Hua Zhang, a variety introduced from the south."

Upon hearing the name, Emperor Jin's smile faded, as if he had remembered something, and he was momentarily lost in thought.

Consort Shu was completely unaware and tugged at Emperor Jin's sleeve, saying sweetly, "Your Majesty, look, it's so beautiful."

Emperor Jin came to his senses and said with a smile, "I remember that this emerald canopy and magnificent curtains have not been opened for several years."

The steward's eyes darted around, and his attitude became even more ingratiating and flattering: "The emerald canopy and the magnificent brocade are fond of warmth but cannot withstand the cold. Perhaps to coincide with this auspicious time, they have bloomed even in the dead of winter."

Consort Shu was overjoyed by these auspicious words. Ignoring the jealous looks from the other concubines, she shook Emperor Jin's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, may I be granted this jade canopy and splendid seal? I wish to take it back to the palace to make a sample and preserve it."

Emperor Jin was happy to do this favor and ordered the steward, "Go and take down this jade canopy and brocade robe."

It was too cold for the manager to go into the water himself, so he waved behind him. A slender figure immediately stepped forward, entered the water in front of everyone, and swam towards the center of the lake, parting the lotus leaves.

Yan Zhen noticed that the figure dressed as a flower servant was none other than Xiahou Che.

She narrowed her eyes, intrigued, wanting to see what method he could use to attract the Jin Emperor's attention.

Even with the introduction of hot spring water into the lake, it was still bitterly cold in winter. Xiahou Che picked the Emerald Canopy and swam back to shore, his lips turning blue from the cold.

He waded ashore with the lotus flower in his hands. The head eunuch quickly took the flower, giving him a warning glare before turning and presenting it to the Emperor.

Xiahou Che didn't compete for it, and stood quietly to the side with his hands hanging down, his clothes soaked through.

Consort Shu received the only Emerald Canopy Flower in the entire Hibiscus Pond. She held the flower and smelled it again and again, her eyes and brows filled with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After admiring the flowers, Emperor Jin prepared to return to the palace, and the concubines all curtsied and respectfully saw him off.

Yan Zhen glanced at Xiahou Che, who was still looking down and seemingly invisible. Just when she thought he was going to fail today, an unexpected event occurred.

An arrow shot from the opposite lakeside pavilion with lightning speed, its target straight for Emperor Jin.

Emperor Jin's expression changed drastically. He had no time to dodge and the arrow was about to pierce his chest.

Suddenly, Xiahou Che leaped up and pounced on Emperor Jin.

The Emperor of Jin was embraced tightly by him.

The next moment, with a "thud" sound as a sharp blade pierced flesh, Xiahou Che, who was holding him, trembled and slid to his knees as if all his strength had been drained.

Emperor Jin was stunned. He instinctively hugged him and turned him over. He saw that the arrow had entered from his back, passed through his chest, and pierced through Xiahou Che's chest.

Blood trickled from Xiahou Che's lips; he was on the verge of death, yet his eyes were filled with longing and affection as he looked at him.

“Your Majesty…” Xiahou Che grasped the corner of his sleeve.

Emperor Jin stared in shock at the familiar face before him: "Who are you?"

Xiahou Che trembled with pain, and with shaky hands, he took out a dried lotus seed from his bosom and stuffed it into Xiahou Che's hand.

He then coughed up blood and collapsed into the arms of the Jin Emperor.

The area around the Hibiscus Pond was in complete chaos.

After watching the entire performance, Yan Zhen raised an eyebrow and turned to leave.

This Xiahou Che is even more daring than she imagined.

-

For several days in a row, people in the palace were filled with anxiety.

The emperor was assassinated while admiring the flowers at the Lotus Pond. At the critical moment, a flower maidservant by the pond rushed to his rescue and took the arrow for him.

The assassin then jumped into the lotus pond in full view of everyone and disappeared without a trace.

The flower maid who was wounded and on the verge of death while saving the emperor was taken away by His Majesty and placed in Changqiu Palace. The best imperial physicians were summoned to the palace to treat her.

I heard that His Majesty is quite fond of this flower maid and has ordered the imperial physicians to save him no matter the cost.

As Green Pearl was putting flowers in Yan Zhen's hair, she said, "Rumors are spreading in the palace now. They say that the flower maid is a woman of exceptional beauty. His Majesty kept her here and even ordered the imperial physician to save her. He must have taken a fancy to her."

Yan Zhen: "...I see."

"That's right. His Majesty stayed in Consort Shu's palace for the past few days. Consort Shu was so angry that she didn't summon that flower maid to serve her in bed these past few days."

Yan Zhen asked with amusement, "How badly is the flower maid's injury?"

"They say his life is in danger, but we don't know if it's true or not."

A few days later, Green Pearl excitedly said, "That flower maid has woken up! There will be more ladies-in-waiting in the palace!"

Yan Zhen's lips twitched: "Don't spread rumors and baseless accusations."

"That's because you don't know His Majesty's temperament, Miss," Green Pearl said in a low voice. "No woman His Majesty has ever set his sights on can escape. Otherwise, how did the three thousand beauties of the harem come about?"

"How about we make a bet?" Yan Zhen teased her. "I bet this flower maid won't be taken into the harem."

"Alright, I bet she'll enter the harem. Judging by how much His Majesty cares for her, she'll at least be a concubine!"

The master and servant made a bet, with Green Pearl's monthly salary as the wager.

A few days later, in the morning, Green Pearl rushed in from outside, her steps unsteady, and she even tripped as she entered the door.

Hongyu frowned: "What happened? You're so reckless!"

Green Pearl looked like she'd been struck by lightning: "That one from Changqiu Palace..."

Yan Zhen was doing her makeup when she heard this. She looked at her in the mirror and asked with a teasing look, "Should I confer the title of 'Talented Lady' or 'Noble Lady'?"

“Neither.” Green Pearl swallowed hard. “He… he is the eleventh prince.”

Yan Zhen and Hong Yu exchanged a knowing glance without making a sound.

"The eleventh prince?"

"Yes, I heard that he is the son of a palace maid born to a palace maid in the Yeting Palace. He has rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor this time, and His Majesty intends to let him be recognized as a member of the imperial family. He will be added to the imperial genealogy soon."