The two eunuchs behind Eunuch Go immediately knelt down in fear.
"Your highness, what are you doing?" Eunuch Go asked with his head standing high without any fear.
As the Head Eunuch beside the emperor, he refused to believe Lingxi would actually dare to harm him.
Lingxi removed the sword from his neck but almost immediately, struck his knee causing him to kneel down.
His hand touched his knee and the blood was clearly visible.
The two other eunuchs bowed their heads in fear, "Your highness, spare us!"
Lingxi's sword found his way to Eunuch Go's neck once more.
He tried to control his temper, "Your highness, I stand by His Majesty's side. No matter what offense you think I committed, I answer only to His Majesty"
Lingxi let out a short scoff, "really?"
The sword moved even closer creating a fresh red mark on his neck, "then, do you believe I will kill you right here this instant?"
[Ningyan Hall]
"Why are you here?" He Rui asked.
He was speaking with He Ming when he heard someone wanted to see him.
The 'someone' turned out to be Xin Xie.
She curtsied, "Prince Jing, Her Highness has a message for you", she said stretching out a tiny paper.
He Rui accepted it and loosened the ribbon on it. He opened it and together, he and He Ming read the contents.
When they were done reading, they exchanged surprise glances.
He Rui stood up, "let's go", he said to Xin Xie but paused to speak to He Ming, "arrange for some imperial guards"
He Ming nodded as He Rui left with Xin Xie. He then went to do his task.
[Channing Palace]
"Your Highness, calm your anger!" the two eunuchs begged.
"Chi Yun", Lingxi called.
"Here", Chi Yun answered.
"Take the both of them away", Lingxi ordered.
Chi Yun immediately signaled two guards standing not too far away.
They came over, pulled both eunuchs by the collar and dragged them way.
"Your highness, spare my life", they cried.
Lingxi and Eunuch Go shared one long glance at each other.
His voice was changing from his official tone to a slightly threatening one, "Your highness, are you sure you want to do this?"
His voice was way too calm for someone who had a sword in his neck and could be killed any second.
Lingxi stared at him a second longer before handing the sword back to Chi Yun.
Eunuch Go felt victorious as he stood up with his leg slightly limping from the cut Lingxi had given him earlier.
"If Your Highness has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave", he said and turned to go.
Chi Yun was confused by the situation.
If Lingxi truly wanted him to walk away free in the end, why create such a fuss? Besides, Eunuch Go was a trusted attendant of His Majesty. Her actions had serious consequences.
Eunuch Go was halfway through the hall.
"You tried to assassinate your superior, do you admit to your crime.....Yuan Go?" she said.
Eunuch Go stopped in his tracks. She did recognize him.
He turned to her slowly, "You recognize me?"
Lingxi smiled, "since we know each other, let's speak clearly and settle all accounts today", she said walking closer to him.
"You stepped into the Palace at nineteen. It's been twenty years since then. Am I right, Yuan Go?" Lingxi asked but they both knew she was not asking but stating facts.
"That's right ....Han Ren", Eunuch Go called her by her code name in New Moon.
Chi Yun could not help but find the name 'Han Ren' familiar but he couldn't remember where he heard it from.
"So you do know I'm Han Ren. When you hired people to assassinate me, I thought you didn't know", Lingxi responded calmly with her face carrying the cold smile she was known for.
"I have no idea what you're talking about", Eunuch Go replied in a straight voice.
"You don't know? Over the years, you have worked meticulously to gain the trust of His Majesty. However, after you secured your position you forgot your main responsibility of safeguarding the realm. You've hatched many conspiracies to climb your way to the top. Don't think I don't know what you've done and are doing in secret. As a matter of fact", Lingxi paused to watch his reaction, "you are my target"
Indeed there was a barely noticeable shift in his expression. As someone trained in New Moon, showing negative reactions was very rare and even if they did, it would be difficult to catch.
But Lingxi noticed it.
"Han Ren, you should know the concept of speaking with evidence", he responded with a straight voice.
Lingxi looked at him, "you have grown quite eloquent after being in the palace for twenty years that you seem to have forgotten the concept of New Moon. In that case, let me remind you"
She opened her hand and Chi Yun handed her the sword.
"The concept of New Moon states that if someone deflects their responsibilities, disobeys orders, harms their superiors, and most importantly, does not dare take responsibility for their actions", she placed the sword on his neck and pressed him down causing him to fall on knees, "they must be executed immediately, on the spot"
She raised the sword as though to strike him when a shout stopped her midway, "Grandaunt, stop!"
Eunuch Go's eyes that were tightly shut preparing to meet his demise opened in relief.
It was He Rui's voice. Next to him was He Ming who had ten imperial guards behind him and was shocked by the scene.
The imperial guards walked in and stood at both sides of the hall with their swords unsheathed.
He Rui walked in followed by He Ming.
Eunuch Go was relieved, "Your Highness..." he wanted to stand up but Lingxi pressed him down with the sword.
"Grandaunt, put the sword down", He Rui said calmly but Lingxi did not move an inch.
Instead she looked at him with a smile, "Prince Jing, perfect timing. I have something interesting to show you"
Xin Lan walked in holding the assassin of the previous night. She pushed him down on the floor.
"Eunuch Go here had become very bold to the extent of trying to assassinate the Grand Prince. I wonder how he plans to rectify his mistakes", Lingxi said.
Eunuch Go looked at her.
Hadn't he hired assassins to attack her? Why was she saying He Yu was the target instead? What game was she playing?
"No matter what crime he has committed, Eunuch is still an attendant by His Majesty's side. You cannot take matters into your hands", He Rui said and made to move forward to stop her.
Chi Yun stood by Lingxi's side in a protective manner.
He Rui wanted to take another step forward but Lingxi's next words made him freeze on the spot.
Lingxi lifted up the Qilin token in her left hand, "His Majesty has granted me the Qilin token. I would like to see who dares to obstruct me"
He Rui stopped in his tracks.
"Prince Jing, step back", she ordered.
He Rui reluctantly stepped backwards. He Ming, on the other hand, stood and watched the entire scene unfold.
This was the first time he had seen such a side of Lingxi.
He Rui turned to look at the man who was kneeling on the floor, "what's going on?" he asked him.
The man could not respond for a while.
"He was among those who attacked His Highness yesterday. What?" Lingxi said looking at him, "now that you're exposed, have you lost your tongue?"
The man panicked and immediately started bowing with loud thuds, "Please spare my life! Spare my life!"
He Rui grew impatient, "Speak!"
The man hesitated and the room went still the moment he started speaking, "I was ordered to assassinate the Grand Prince. It was...it was....." he turned in Eunuch Go's direction and suddenly pointed at him, "it was him who ordered me to do it"
Eunuch Go's face clenched. He had been anonymous. The assassins were not supposed to know who sent them. One thing was for certain - his words were prearranged by someone.
And that someone, he was sure, was Lingxi.
He could not defend himself as his life was still hanging by a thread. He knew Lingxi's temperament. If he tried anything funny, he would surely die.
"I plead my guilt. Please spare my life", he bowed.
He was sure that with He Rui's presence, she wouldn't dare hurt him. He was His Majesty's personal attendant. He Rui had an obligation to protect him.
"Since Eunuch Go has admitted his guilt, I think we should let His Majesty decide", He Ming suggested.
Lingxi looked like she was considering his suggestion. She handed the sword back to Chi Yun and walked up to He Ming.
"Since Prince Wen has suggested it, I have no choice but to let you go", she said.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
"But I would like to ask... Eunuch Go....." she said turning to him, "for trying to assassinate the Grand Prince, what punishment do you think you deserve?"
Eunuch Go wondered what she was up to again. He could feel something was fishy but had no choice but to continue is act.
He bowed down, "This servant deserves death"
The corners of Lingxi's lips curved up in a smile, "Very well. I shall personally grant you death"
Before anyone could comprehend her words, she drew out He Rui's sword and directly slit his throat in an instant leaving everyone shocked.