Evening had fallen and the sky was a deep blue.
Though it was still somewhat light, inside the large pavilion of the imperial hunting lodge, lamps and candles had already been lit.
Tables were laden with several mouth-watering dishes. The rising and falling chatter of the people feasting could be heard outside the pavilion. Chopsticks clinked as the bowls full of food were slowly emptied. Wine cups were filled and refilled.
Maids hurried in and out, carrying refills and new hot dishes.
Upstairs, the men were talking and laughing in loud voices, toasting and congratulating each other on a successful spring hunt, and bragging about their kills and skills.
Downstairs, the women were quieter. But occasionally, a whole group of them would break out into joyful laughter.
Seated in a group of young married noblewomen, Lu Yan fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat.
Lu Yan rarely talked in such situations, so her silence was expected. But, her sister-in-law Jiang Xin noticed, she wasn't even eating or drinking.
She finished a conversation with one of her close friends before turning to Lu Yan.
Leaning in close, she asked with concern, "You haven't been eating or drinking. Are you alright?"
Lu Yan smiled slightly, "I ate too much in the afternoon. I really don't have any appetite."
Jiang Xin looked at her closely, then undid a twist in the chain of the necklace Lu Yan was wearing, "You've been restless these days. If there's anything bothering you, you know I'm always ready to listen, right?"
This time Lu Yan's smile was more genuine, "I know."
Jiang Xin pulled a bowl of sugar coated nuts close, and picked one for Lu Yan, "Here, try these."
Lu Yan took the little treat, and popped it into her mouth, "En, it's nice."
Jiang Xin smiled and turned back to the conversation.
After a while, Lu Yan tapped her arm to get her attention, "I just need to go change my clothes."
"I'll come with you," Jiang Xin offered.
Lu Yan pressed her shoulder lightly, "No need. You should continue chatting. I'll go and come back."
Jiang Xin smiled, "I'll keep an eye out for you then."
She turned back to the friends. Lu Yan stood up and made her way outside.
---
In the corridors surrounding the pavilion, it was almost dark.
Lu Yan walked slowly, her eyes and ears trying to sense anything unfamiliar in the surroundings.
Everything seemed normal.
Lu Yan reached the ladies' room.
When she emerged, it was even darker.
The air seemed was silent and still. It felt like even small sounds were reverberating.
Feeling her heart beating loudly in her ears, Lu Yan walked back to the feast. Her footsteps seemed to echo loudly in the evening air.
As she reached the pavilion, she sensed something, and turned around.
A figure had emerged from the darkness. Against the dark sky, Lu Yan could see a bow pointing right at her.
Without hesitation, Lu Yan screamed as loud as she could, "Assassins! Assassins!"
The next second, an arrow whistled through the air.
After screaming, Lu Yan immediately tried to backtrack, but stumbled over her skirt. She was bowled over and went sprawling to the ground on her backside.
Lu Yan didn't know, but the arrow had been aimed right at her throat. If she had frozen from surprise even for a second, she would have been silenced before she could make any sound.
The arrow missed her throat, but slashed along the side of her stomach and pinned her dress to the ground.
Lu Yan gasped in agony.
From behind, she could hear the sounds of a commotion, and despite the overwhelming pain, she felt a sense of relief.
The assassin nocked a second arrow and aimed at Lu Yan again.
Having lost the element of surprise, the remaining assassins came out in force. Behind Lu Yan, imperial guards emerged from the pavilion.
Lu Yan was trapped in the no man's land between the two armed groups.
The second arrow flew through the air, and Lu Yan could do nothing.
Just as she braced for more pain, something small flew from behind her, right into the arrow's path.
It was a bowl, and it shattered on impact.
One of the shards flew into Lu Yan's face, and cutting a line along her cheek.
The next second, Han jumped down straight down from the first floor and landed next to Lu Yan.
Absurdly, he was carrying a table.
One of the legs of the table broke, but that didn't matter.
Because the next second, the surface of the table was right in front of Lu Yan and the third arrow had thunked into the wood.
The imperial guards had finally gathered. The commander shouted an order, and several arrows flew into the ranks of the assassins.
To avoid being shot through like pincushions, the assassins had no choice but to rush forward.
Unfortunately, Han and Lu Yan were right in their path.
Han pulled the arrow from the table, and stabbed it into the eye of the first assassin who slashed at them.
He used the table to block the second assassin's sword strike. The table split into two.
Han smashed one of the pieces into the second assassin's sword hand.
Then, he threw the other piece at the third assassin who was about to stab Lu Yan. The man dodged.
Behind, the imperial guard's commander shouted another order.
Arrows stopped flying through the air.
Instead, there was a sharp metallic ring as all the imperial guards drew their swords in unison and charged.
Han had managed to snatch the second assassin's sword, and when the third assassin recovered, he met Han's blade before he could strike again.
Imperial guards swarmed around them, fending off the assassins, and driving them back.
Now protected by the line of imperial guards, Han immediately turned around and knelt beside Lu Yan.
In panic, he asked, "Are you hurt?"
Lu Yan's side was on fire, and she groaned incoherently.
Unable to hold on, she finally collapsed from her half-sitting position and fell straight onto the ground.
The movement jolted her wound horrifying, and she cried out again.
Her hand, which had been trying to put pressure on the wound, flopped weakly to the ground.
A rush of warm blood leaked out, soaking her clothes, and seeping into the grass.
In the dim light of the nearby lamps, Han saw that her light blue dress was stained dark.
He felt along her side, and pressed firmly onto the wound.
She groaned again. More blood seeped out.
One hand wasn't enough. He pressed both hands to her side.
In desperation, he screamed out loudly, "Where's the doctor? Bring a doctor here! Right now!"