Xiahou Lian struggled to his feet, holding the well for support. “You didn’t see me. I’ll be on my way. Maybe we’ll meet again.”
He took three steps toward the outer wall, then collapsed with a thud.
Shen Jue was shocked into silence.
Xiahou Lian was severely injured—the cut on his shoulder was deep enough to expose bone. Shen Jue carried him to Sixi’s room, stripped off his bloodstained clothes, and burned them in the brazier. Fortunately, Shen Jue had some medicinal herbs in his room. He selected the ones meant to staunch blood loss and applied them to Xiahou Lian’s wound.
Xiahou Lian drifted in and out of consciousness. Sweat drenched his forehead, and his brow furrowed in discomfort. When Shen Jue put his hand to the other boy’s forehead, it was burning with fever. He fetched some cold water, then soaked his face towel and placed it over Xiahou Lian’s forehead.
Outside, a commotion erupted.
“Everyone come out here!” someone shouted. “Find the assassin!”
Shen Jue’s heart raced. He cracked the window to see a group of imperial guards, their faces stern and severe, their armor and swords gleaming coldly in the night.
If the guards found Xiahou Lian, both he and Shen Jue would be doomed. He’d panicked upon seeing Xiahou Lian’s injury, and in his haste to bandage it, he hadn’t thought to hide the other boy in the well.
But there was no time for second-guessing. Shen Jue’s mind raced as he tried to think of some way to deceive the guards. Noticing the makeup on Sixi’s bureau, Shen Jue quickly grabbed a chunk of rouge. He hastily dabbed Xiahou Lian’s face with red spots, then wrapped him snugly in the blanket. After ensuring that no blood had stained his own clothes, he slipped quietly out the door.
Consort Gao was shrieking excitedly, “Where is the emperor? Why hasn’t he come? Are you here to take me back? Wonderful! I’m returning! I’m the imperial noble consort—the imperial noble consort!”
Two guards tied Consort Gao to a pillar. The courtyard’s other three consorts were slightly more stable; they cowered under the eaves, peeking out with fearful eyes at the imposing procession.
“The imperial noble consort was attacked during the banquet. The assassin fled in this direction, so we’re under orders to search the area. Please summon everyone in the Fourth Qianxi Courtyard for inspection,” said one of the guards.
Eunuchs hurried over. They buttoned their robes as they lined up under the eaves, heads bowed.
A guard walked around, patting the right shoulder of everyone present. Finding nothing amiss, he turned to Shen Jue. “Is everyone here?”
“Sir, someone is still lying down inside,” another guard reported.
“That’s Sixi-gonggong,” Shen Jue told him calmly. “He’s ill and can’t get up.”
“Ill or not, we have to check him.” The guard gestured to his subordinate. “Go in and take a look.”
“Sixi-gonggong is covered in red spots,” Shen Jue added. “I’m afraid it could be smallpox. It would be better not to go in there.”
At his words, everyone shrank back in fear.
The main guard’s expression darkened. “We have our orders: Everyone must be inspected. Otherwise, how would we explain ourselves if the assassin happened to be hiding in there? Who here has had smallpox? They’ll come help me search.”
Two guards stepped forward. “We had smallpox as children.”
Shen Jue’s heart sank. “Why take such a risk, sir? Smallpox is no joke. I just came from his room, and I swear on my life, no assassin is hiding in there. On top of that, Sixi-gonggong is the godson of Supervisor Liu of the imperial stables. You should tread carefully.”
With Wei De in power, eunuchs held significant influence in the palace. Even those appointed imperial guards had to show deference to high-ranking eunuchs. Although Shen Jue had been assigned to the cold palace, he was still a minor supervisor, and the guards didn’t dare order him around.
The guards’ leader hesitated, but finally said, “We’re only carrying out our duties—please don’t take offense. Follow me inside, men.”
“Please understand, sir,” one guard added. “The assassin is elusive—a master of concealment. He could stand right behind you, and you wouldn’t even know it. This search is for everyone’s safety.”
With that, the three guards entered the room. Shen Jue closed his eyes for a moment, then followed them inside.
Xiahou Lian had awoken. Seeing the guards approach, he struggled to sit up. “This humble servant greets the honorable guards.”
Noticing the red spots on his face, the guards stepped back subtly.
The two guards who’d had smallpox searched the room, then shook their heads at their leader. He turned to Xiahou Lian, who lay on the bed. The main guard’s eyes flickered over him. “One of our blades struck the assassin’s shoulder. Could you please remove the blanket and let me see yours?”
Cold sweat drenched Shen Jue’s forehead and dripped into his eyes, but he kept his head down so the guards wouldn’t see.
What should he do?
If the blanket was pulled away from Xiahou Lian’s shoulder, and the guards saw his wound, neither of the boys would live past that day.