"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"
Before Zhang Shihao could think further, three arrows pierced the air. They seemed to be aimed at the Empress and Liu Bian, but the assassins' archery skills were clearly not up to par.
One arrow was shot towards Prince Bian's head.
The other two arrows actually veered towards Liu Hong.
Zhang Shihao quickly assessed the situation, instantly determining that one arrow was heading for Liu Hong's thigh, and the other for his right arm.
As the thought flashed, Zhang Shihao immediately disregarded Liu Hong and his voice boomed:
"No good! Assassins on the roof! Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
Zhang Shihao's voice suddenly boomed, startling Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo, and the other eunuchs and guards.
They finally noticed several black-clad assassins on the roof, watching the arrows rapidly pierce the air.
Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo, and the other eunuchs and guards' eyes instantly widened with fury, their scalps tingling.
Empress He Lian was even more panicked, her face drained of color.
Because one arrow was aimed directly at five-year-old Liu Bian's forehead.
"Bian'er!"
Instinctively, Empress He Lian lunged towards Liu Bian, intending to shield him from the arrow. However, at that moment, a thick, tall figure blocked their mother and son.
"Clang!"
A spark flew as the arrow aimed at Liu Bian was directly knocked away by the iron frame in Zhang Shihao's hand.
"Shihao, Bian'er, are you alright? Are you alright?"
Seeing Zhang Shihao appear to save Liu Bian and stand in front of them, Empress He Lian was overjoyed and wept with relief, quickly holding Liu Bian and checking him all over.
"Ahhh~"
Just then, two shrill screams echoed.
Emperor Liu Hong was struck and fell to the ground, one arrow in his left thigh and the other in his right arm. Blood instantly gushed out, and Liu Hong was so terrified that his soul nearly fled, his shrill screams echoing, utterly miserable.
"Hiss~"
Seeing Liu Hong struck by arrows and fallen to the ground in such a miserable state.
Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo, and the other eunuchs and guards gasped, their minds going blank.
Liu Hong was hit!
They were finished!
As this thought surfaced, everyone felt a sudden weakness in their bodies.
"Your Majesty! Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
One after another, frantic and anxious shouts rang out.
The eunuchs and guards around Changle Palace frantically rushed towards them.
The black-clad assassins on the roof of Changle Palace saw that Empress He Lian and Prince Bian were unharmed, and that all the arrows had struck Liu Hong. Their scalps tingled.
They all looked at the leader of the black-clad assassins.
The leading black-clad assassin looked at the miserably fallen Liu Hong, his scalp also tingling, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes, and he whispered in a cold, stern voice:
"We can't stop now! Quick, kill Empress He and Prince Bian, then retreat immediately!"
"Kill!"
At the command of the leading black-clad assassin, the assassins immediately took a deep breath, drew their swords, and charged forward in unison.
They leaped down, all of them, and rushed towards Empress He and Prince Bian.
"Damn it! Protect His Majesty! Kill them all!"
Jian Shuo, seeing the assassins attacking, was furious and alarmed. He shouted, drawing his precious sword, and charged forward first.
More than a dozen eunuchs and guards followed closely behind him.
Instantly, the eunuchs, guards, and black-clad assassins engaged in close-quarters combat.
Jian Shuo, nearly eight feet tall and exceptionally robust, exuded a fierce aura. At this moment, he was like a lion whose fur had been ruffled, charging left and right.
A sharp precious sword directly cut down two black-clad assassins, making him unstoppable.
Jian Shuo was enraged and alarmed. As the Imperial Harem's guard commander, he was responsible for Liu Hong's safety.
Now, Liu Hong had been struck by two arrows, his life unknown, how could he not be utterly furious and alarmed?
He cleanly cut down two black-clad assassins.
Jian Shuo blocked the leader of the black-clad assassins, who had also cut down two eunuchs and guards and was attempting to rush towards Liu Hong.
"Get out of the way!"
Seeing Jian Shuo blocking his path, the leading black-clad assassin clearly frowned and said coldly.
However, Jian Shuo clearly would not give way, his killing intent boiling, he roared:
"Assassinating His Majesty! You deserve to die! Die!"
With a murderous roar, Jian Shuo raised his sword and charged directly at the leading black-clad assassin.
"Begone!"
The leading black-clad assassin was clearly a little impatient. The long sword in his hand was like a streak of white silk, swiftly sweeping through the air.
Clang!
A metallic clash, sparking with fire, rang out.
Before Jian Shuo could react further, the leading black-clad assassin's cold eyes showed no ripple. The long sword in his hand seemed to slow down incredibly, and the next moment, at a strange angle, it swept past the long sword blocking Jian Shuo.
"Pfft!"
It was too fast. Jian Shuo's eyes widened in disbelief. The next moment, a sharp pain surged through his abdomen, and he was completely powerless, directly sent flying by the long sword in the leading black-clad assassin's hand, blood spraying as he heavily crashed to the ground.
"This... how is this possible?"
Seeing Jian Shuo, facing the leading black-clad assassin, unable to withstand even a single blow and being sent flying, the eunuchs, guards, Empress He Lian, Zhang Rang, and even the miserably wailing Liu Hong all gasped in disbelief.
That was Jian Shuo, the guard commander!