Before Shen Xuan could even think of how to avoid the incoming dagger, a black-clad figure suddenly appeared.
He did not appear through magic or some mysterious technique.
He had simply moved with astonishing speed.
One moment, the assassin was raising his dagger.
The next, a man dressed entirely in black had already intercepted him.
The black-clad man twisted the assassin’s wrist with one hand, forcing the dagger away from Shen Xuan. The weapon fell onto the bed with a dull sound before sliding onto the floor.
The assassin struggled fiercely.
His movements were sharp and practiced, clearly those of someone who had received years of training.
But the black-clad man was far more skilled.
Within only a few breaths, he had completely subdued him.
"Don’t move."
His voice was cold.
The assassin suddenly went still.
The black-clad man narrowed his eyes.
Something felt wrong.
He immediately reached out, intending to knock the assassin unconscious before interrogating him later.
But he was a moment too late.
The assassin suddenly bit down hard.
A muffled sound escaped his throat.
Blood immediately appeared at the corner of his mouth.
His body stiffened.
Then he collapsed.
Dead.
The room fell completely silent.
Shen Xuan stared at the lifeless assassin.
Her little face gradually turned pale.
Her stomach churned.
She quickly covered her mouth.
"I always read about assassins biting their tongues to commit suicide..."
"But it’s really not nice seeing it in person."
"It’s disgusting."
She swallowed hard and tried to control the nausea rising in her stomach.
The black-clad man immediately turned toward her.
Only then did Shen Xuan notice the sweat on his forehead.
He had clearly been rushing.
He lowered himself onto one knee.
"This subordinate apologizes for being late, Mistress."
Shen Xuan blinked.
"Mistress?"
The man lowered his head respectfully.
"This subordinate was almost too late."
Shen Xuan stared at him.
Her little mouth opened slightly.
"Who is your mistress?"
She looked around the room.
There was nobody else.
Her expression slowly became strange.
"Who are you?"
The man hesitated briefly before answering.
"This subordinate is Wei Zhou."
He lowered his head.
"I was assigned by His Highness the Crown Prince to protect you."
Shen Xuan’s eyes narrowed.
"To protect me?"
"Yes, Mistress."
Her voice became unusually quiet.
"Or to monitor me?"
Wei Zhou’s heart tightened.
He immediately shook his head.
"To protect you, Mistress."
"I am not your mistress!"
Shen Xuan finally shouted.
Wei Zhou lowered his head even more.
"This subordinate understands."
"You clearly don’t!"
Shen Xuan glared at him.
She took several deep breaths.
Her heart was still beating rapidly from the assassination attempt, but another realization was slowly settling in.
The Crown Prince had secretly assigned someone to protect her.
She had never known.
Who knows since when he had assigned someone....
Someone had been watching over her.
"So that’s why he always knows where Iam..."
"No wonder..."
"But still, why does he have to call me mistress?"
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
Her adult mind was already beginning to ache.
She had transmigrated into a novel.
She had deliberately avoided the plot.
She had tried to become a salted fish.
And somehow...
She had acquired a Crown Prince who secretly assigned a shadow guard to her.
"My salted-fish life is getting more complicated by the day."
Before Shen Xuan could question Wei Zhou further, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
Several people were approaching.
The door to Shen Xuan’s resting chamber suddenly swung open.
Shen Ruiwen rushed inside.
Behind him was Gu Yanzhi, followed by several servants.
Xiao Mei and Xiao Cao were among them.
"Awu!"
Gu Yanzhi’s face changed the moment she saw the figure lying on the floor.
She immediately ran toward her daughter.
"Awu!"
"Mother!"
Gu Yanzhi pulled Shen Xuan into her arms.
Her hands trembled as she checked her daughter from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
"Did he injure you?"
"Where does it hurt?"
"Mother, I’m fine."
Shen Xuan tried to reassure her.
But her mother didn’t seem convinced.
Gu Yanzhi carefully examined her arms, shoulders, face and neck.
Only after finding no injury did she finally release the breath she had been holding.
"Thank Heaven..."
Her voice trembled.
Shen Ruiwen had already moved toward the corpse.
His expression became grim when he noticed the blood around the assassin’s mouth.
"He killed himself."
Shen Xuan glanced toward where Wei Zhou had been standing.
He was gone.
She hadn’t even noticed when he disappeared.
Her father turned toward her.
"Awu."
"What happened?"
Shen Xuan hesitated.
She couldn’t tell him about Wei Zhou.
At least, not yet.
She also wasn’t sure whether mentioning the Crown Prince would be wise.
She remembered how her father had looked earlier that day when he saw Zhang Jingyuan holding her hand.
That expression alone was enough to make Shen Xuan decide that involving her father in the Crown Prince’s affairs was a bad idea.
So she carefully chose her words.
"I was sleeping when I heard someone enter."
"I opened my eyes and saw him."
"He tried to attack me."
Shen Ruiwen’s expression became even colder.
"What happened afterward?"
"Someone came."
"Someone?"
Shen Xuan nodded.
"He defeated the assassin."
"Who?"
"I don’t know."
Shen Ruiwen stared at his daughter.
"Did you see his face?"
Shen Xuan shook her head.
"He was dressed in black."
"Did he say anything?"
Shen Xuan paused.
"He told me he was protecting me."
Shen Ruiwen’s brows furrowed.
Before he could ask anything else, Shen Xuan quickly added,
"But I don’t know who he was."
That was not exactly a lie.
She didn’t know Wei Zhou personally.
Her father remained silent.
The assassination had clearly not been random.
The assassin had somehow entered the Shen Residence and found Shen Xuan’s room.
Someone had either provided him with information or helped him enter.
That meant there was a traitor somewhere within the residence.
Shen Ruiwen’s expression became solemn.
"Seal the residence."
The steward immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, Master."
"Question everyone who entered or left the residence."
"Search the servants’ quarters."
"Nobody is permitted to leave until we understand how this happened."
"Yes, Master."
The steward immediately hurried away.
Gu Yanzhi continued holding Shen Xuan.
She could feel her daughter’s small body trembling.
Her heart broke.
She lowered her head and kissed Shen Xuan’s hair.
"Don’t be afraid, Awu."
"Mother is here."
Shen Xuan buried her face against her mother’s chest.
For once, she didn’t make a joke.
She didn’t complain.
She didn’t even think about food.
She was genuinely frightened.
That night, the Shen Residence remained awake.
Lanterns illuminated the corridors.
Guards patrolled the walls.
Servants were summoned one after another and questioned.
The entire household was placed under strict scrutiny.
Nobody knew who had betrayed the family.
Nobody knew how the assassin had entered.
And until the culprit was discovered, Shen Ruiwen refused to let his youngest daughter remain alone.
Shen Xuan was therefore taken to Shen Yuerou’s courtyard.
Her elder sister immediately made room for her.
The two sisters huddled together beneath the blankets.
Shen Yuerou gently stroked Shen Xuan’s hair.
"Don’t be afraid, Awu."
Shen Xuan nodded.
But she remained unusually quiet.
The image of the dagger kept appearing in her mind.
She had lived as a child for so many years that her mentality had gradually become that of a ten-year-old.
She could still remember her previous life.
She could still remember reading novels and laughing at scenes where characters narrowly escaped assassinations.
But this was different.
She had almost died.
And she had watched a person choose death rather than reveal anything.
That was not something a ten-year-old could simply forget.
The next morning, Shen Xuan’s spirits were terribly low.
The family tried everything.
Her grandmother brought her sweets.
Her father promised to buy her whatever she wanted.
Her brothers tried to make her laugh.
Her mother stayed beside her.
Even Shen Yuerou spent most of her time with her.
But Shen Xuan remained quiet.
The lively little girl who normally ran around the residence had disappeared.
For several days, nothing seemed capable of lifting her spirits.
Then, one week later...
Something happened that finally brought a genuine smile back to her face.
She became an aunt.
Mo Yunxui had been worried about Shen Xuan ever since the assassination attempt.
As Shen Zhiqian’s wife, she had always treated Shen Xuan like her own little sister.
And now that she was heavily pregnant, she still couldn’t stop thinking about the little girl.
After hearing that Shen Xuan had returned to her own courtyard, Mo Yunxui insisted on visiting her.
The moment Shen Xuan saw her sister-in-law enter, her previously dull eyes immediately brightened.
"Sister-in-law!"
She ran toward her.
Mo Yunxui smiled warmly.
"Awu."
Shen Xuan quickly approached her and carefully took her hand.
"Sister-in-law, why are you here?"
"You should be resting."
Mo Yunxui laughed softly.
"I came because I was worried about you."
She allowed Shen Xuan to guide her toward a chair that had already been prepared.
After sitting down carefully, Mo Yunxui looked at the little girl before her.
"You haven’t come to visit me lately."
Shen Xuan lowered her head.
"I..."
Mo Yunxui gently touched her cheek.
"Your nephew misses you."
"Your sister-in-law misses you too."
Shen Xuan’s heart softened.
"I’m sorry."
"You don’t need to apologize."
Mo Yunxui smiled.
"Just come and see us when you feel better."
At that moment...
Mo Yunxui suddenly stiffened.
Her eyes widened.
Then she let out a small cry.
"Ah!"
Shen Xuan immediately became worried.
"Sister-in-law?"
Mo Yunxui placed one hand over her stomach.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"He kicked."
Shen Xuan’s eyes widened.
"He did?"
Mo Yunxui nodded.
"Perhaps he knows his little aunt is here."
She reached out and took Shen Xuan’s hand.
Then she carefully placed it against her stomach.
"Feel it."
Shen Xuan remained completely still.
For several moments, there was nothing.
Then...
A tiny movement pressed against her palm.
Shen Xuan’s eyes widened.
Her lips parted.
"He moved!"
Mo Yunxui laughed.
"Yes."
Shen Xuan stared at her sister-in-law’s stomach.
For the first time since the assassination attempt, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
The servants standing nearby exchanged relieved glances.
They had all been worried about their young miss.
Seeing her smile again made them quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
But before they could enjoy the moment...
Mo Yunxui suddenly froze.
A strange expression appeared on her face.
Shen Xuan looked up.
"Sister-in-law?"
Mo Yunxui looked down.
Then her eyes widened.
"Something..."
She swallowed.
"Something is happening."
The oldest dowry servant who had accompanied Mo Yunxui from her maiden home immediately stepped forward.
She looked down.
Then her expression changed.
"Madam’s water has broken!"
The room erupted into chaos.
"What?"
"Quickly!"
"Call the midwife!"
"Bring hot water!"
"Tell Young Master Shen!"
The servants began rushing around.
Mo Yunxui gripped the armrest of the chair.
Shen Xuan stared in shock.
"Sister-in-law..."
The elderly dowry servant quickly took control of the situation.
"Everyone, don’t panic!"
"Send someone to call the midwife immediately."
"You, prepare hot water."
"You, inform Young Master Shen Zhiqian."
"Quickly!"
The servants hurried to obey.
One of them suddenly looked toward Mo Yunxui’s courtyard.
"Madam is too far along. We may not be able to move her there safely."
The elderly servant immediately looked around.
Then her gaze landed on Shen Xuan.
"Second Miss."
Shen Xuan blinked.
"Yes?"
"We’ll have to use your room."
"My room?"
"Yes."
"We cannot risk moving Madam again."
Shen Xuan immediately nodded.
"Then use it."
The servants quickly began preparing her room.
Shen Xuan was led outside while the adults took over.
For the next several hours, the entire courtyard remained busy.
And then...
A baby’s cry finally rang through the room.
Everyone froze.
Shen Xuan’s eyes widened.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
Her nephew had arrived.
Later...
The courtyard had finally become quiet.
Shen Xuan carefully approached the small wooden crib.
Inside was a tiny baby boy.
His little face was still red.
His hands were curled into tiny fists.
He made a small sound in his sleep before settling down again.
Shen Xuan stared at him for a long moment.
This was her nephew.
Her first nephew.
The newest member of the Shen family.
She carefully extended one finger.
The baby’s tiny hand instinctively closed around it.
Shen Xuan froze.
Then her eyes softened.
A smile spread across her face.
"It’s my turn to dote on someone now."
She leaned closer to the crib.
"Little nephew..."
"Your little aunt will protect you."
"And I’ll spoil you."
For the first time since the assassination...
Shen Xuan felt completely at peace.
The world outside could be dangerous.
The novel’s plot could be waiting for her.
The Crown Prince could be strange.
Being the heroine could be dangerous.
And there could be countless people who wanted to drag her into the story.
But at that moment...
None of that mattered.
All that mattered was the tiny hand holding her finger.
And the warmth of her family surrounding her
A/N: We’ll be moving into the teenage years of Shen Xuan from the next Chapter.
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