A group of ninja assassins suddenly surrounded the Xie household.
Yueshen's father had anticipated this, so he quickly sent his daughter and grandson to a secure location to avoid questions.
They were sent to his sister, Tai Furen, the third concubine of the Yuwen household, who was caring for her 3-year-old son, Yuwen Huai.
Yueshen and her child rode to the Yuwen household on her father's horse, hiding the baby carefully in her arms.
Lady Yueshen arrived in a Qinghai Palace dress and a long fur coat but had left their home wearing a servant's peony dress.
"Brother, please take care of him," Lady Yueshen said as she handed over the Po Yue Jian sword.
She kissed the baby prince's forehead, who was sleeping soundly, placed paper snow in his lap, and wiped tears from her eyes before giving him to her brother.
"I'll meet you there. You take Juwei Street; I'll use the Yuwen backdoor," her brother instructed.
Yueshen nodded and, with a heavy heart, replied, "If anything goes wrong, don't hesitate."
"For my nephew, I'm prepared to fight," her brother assured, turning to the sleeping baby. "Don't worry, little one. Your uncle is a sword master; who would dare challenge us?"
They disappeared into the deep snow until Yueshen could no longer see them.
Her horse started to run in the opposite direction from her son.
Yuwen Hao, dressed in his usual dark blue silk robes with Qui's on both arms, was finishing his evening practice when he heard a moan. He grabbed his bow and arrow and stepped outside, alert despite knowing the area was secure.
Confidently, he approached, as if hunting in his own backyard, and soon spotted a sleeping baby on the ground. Wrapped in plain canvas, with no trace of princely clothing, and dark purple silk beside him, Yuwen Hao's senses sharpened. He detected the scent of blood, suggesting a nearby injured person and traps set around the perimeter.
He followed the blood trail until a man emerged from hiding and fled. The man was shot with two arrows but continued to run in shock, trying to escape the Green Hills courtyard.
"My little prince, I've done my part; now your life is in your hands." The man collapsed onto the snowy ground and breathe his last.
Yuwen Hao, seeing the masked man's lifeless body, didn't pursue him. Instead, he noticed the baby stirring and stretching. At first, Yuwen Hao was unsure what to do, but the baby's helpless and angelic presence triggered his protective instincts.
Despite his usual reserved demeanor, Yuwen Hao instinctively moved closer to the baby. Just as he was beginning to focus on the child, an arrow suddenly whizzed through the air, heading toward them.
Reacting quickly, Yuwen Hao leapt to shield the baby from the incoming arrow. He couldn't determine its source, but he knew it wasn't from the traps within the perimeter; it came from outside the Yuwen household.
To protect the baby, Yuwen Hao didn't alert the household. He knew that drawing attention could endanger the infant. While defending the child, he was struck in the arm by an arrow but prioritized the baby's safety over his own, taking the black silk from his side to shield them. This selfless act was something he had never done before.
Yuwen Hao put down the baby at the grand sofa bed. He hid the black silk under the secret cabinet under the bed, closed the lid and put down the dark blue see-through curtain. Suddenly his servant came who was about to scream but Yuwen Hao put his hand on his mouth and said: "if you dare, I will kill you here."
"Master, servants do not dare, please let me help you."
The servant is still shocked and was not used to seeing his master shot with an arrow.
In fact, he didn't remember that he handle any of this situation in the past.
The servant is worried because he might get his head chop and might not live to see the sun tomorrow if his master does not get treated immediately his wounds are deep and needs to take out the stuck arrow in his right arm.
Yuwen Hao face shows he is in pain, so the servant sneaked out of his master's hall walked to another hall, he showed his carved jade stone hanging in his belt to the guard and went inside theYuwen'sCǎoyào (herbal medicine)room.
The servant examined the medicine cabinet labels, then opened a small compartment to retrieve a pair of tongs and two tiny jade ceramic bowls. He selected various antiseptic herbs, walked to another cabinet, and took a bottle of celadon-colored Kàngshēngsù (antibiotic).
He also collected soft gauze pads, cotton balls, and a medium-sized glass bottle labeled Lěngquán shuǐ (cold spring water). Before leaving, he grabbed a 2-inch-wide roll of bandage.
The servant slowly took out the arrows and a red dark blood spit more blood, then quickly the servant washed it withLěngquán shuǐ(cold spring water or like an alcohol)and wiped it with a clean white handkerchief with its household inscription宇文浩 means Yuwen Hao.
Yuwen Hao, feeling a bit relieved, glanced anxiously at the baby beneath the see-through curtains, his concern for the child outweighing his own injury.
"What happened, Master?" the servant asked as he applied antiseptic herbs and a balm-like antibiotic to Yuwen Hao's wound, letting it soak in.
"I made a mistake with one of the traps. This is the result," Yuwen Hao replied briefly, his response indicating he was hiding something. The servant sensed that Yuwen Hao was concealing more than he admitted and that he didn't want the situation to become a bigger issue.
Yuwen Hao was known for his perfectionism and had never previously been injured inside the Eyes of God repository or while executing Merlin stratagems. The servant was surprised by the master's anxious tone, which was unusual for someone who typically spoke in a formal, controlled manner.
Without pressing further, the servant raised an eyebrow but continued working in silence. "Hang on, Master, almost done," he said while wrapping the bandage around Yuwen Hao's arm.
"You are not to tell anyone about what you saw or did tonight," Yuwen Hao said in a cold, distant voice.
"Yes, Master Hao," the servant responded.
"You're dismissed," Yuwen Hao ordered. The servant bowed and left.
Yuwen Hao dismissed his servant and, appearing hurried, went to his bed. As he looked at the baby, he was overwhelmed by an unexpressed sense of joy and a strong desire to keep the child. He quickly formed a plan in his mind.
Despite his injury, Yuwen Hao covered his arm with his robe, walked to the east corner of the room, and pulled a string. The bell rang out with a series of clangs, signaling the maidservants of Green Hills Courtyard. The head maid rushed to his hall.
"Master, I came immediately when I heard the bell three times," she said. The head maid was elegant and graceful, dressed in a thin nightgown and small slippers, having hurried without bothering to change into more formal attire. The three bell rings were an urgent call for help, a signal rarely used except in emergencies.
Yuwen Hao, his back turned to her, resumed his usual aristocratic demeanor as he addressed her. "Come."
The young head maid, trembling and unable to speak, knelt before him, her eyes fixed on his feet. Yuwen Hao, pleased by the sight of her delicate, pearly white feet, spoke firmly but politely, "I said, come here."
Yuwen Hao's eyes were drawn to the grand sofa bed, its curtains slightly open. The hall was dimly lit, with a soothing aroma that promised comfort and rest.
The head maidservant, trembling and nervous, clung to her thin nightgown, feeling both cold and apprehensive. She was a virgin and was distressed at the thought of being called to the master's bed.
Seeing her hesitation, Yuwen Hao grew impatient. He approached her, pulled at her nightgown, and suddenly she was left in her undergarments. Realizing his actions, Yuwen Hao quickly covered her with her gown, his own arm still limping.
Noticing the maidservant's distress and tears, Yuwen Hao understood her fear. "Master, please spare me tonight and don't punish me tomorrow. I'm on my period," she pleaded, explaining that she was unable to fulfill her duties due to her menstrual cycle.
Yuwen Hao had chosen the finest maids, but none had borne him a child. He broadened his shoulders and played along with the maidservant's drama, attempting to ease her fears. "Do I look like a vampire who would claim a blooming flower like you under such circumstances?" His playful grin and slightly open dark blue robe, exposing his broad chest, were meant to be alluring.
The maidservant, still uneasy, wrapped her gown tightly around herself and stood on tiptoe, waiting for his next move.
Feeling awkward and not quite himself, Yuwen Hao found his manhood responding to the situation, though he tried to focus on his duties. The soft cry of the baby from behind the curtains snapped him back to reality.
Surprised, the maidservant peeked at the bed, confused by the situation. Yuwen Hao, feeling embarrassed, quickly composed himself. He returned to his formal demeanor and instructed her to take the baby to his library room while he prepared it.
In the library, Yuwen Hao lit an incense and a tea candle, sitting in deep thought and momentarily forgetting the earlier tension.
The maidservant, now somewhat calmed, entered the master's bedchamber, her eyes widening with delight at the sight of the sleeping baby. "He looks like a god," she murmured, admiring the child's serene appearance.
After leaving the baby safely in the master's bed, she proceeded to the library room. Yuwen Hao, now composed and calm, addressed her with a serious tone. "I need you to listen carefully and follow my instructions exactly as I say."
"Yes, Master," the maidservant replied, apologizing for her earlier behavior. "I was too narrow-minded and am ashamed of myself now."
The maidservant, feeling a mixture of humility and relief, bowed her head to the floor, apologizing for her earlier behavior.
Yuwen Hao, maintaining his aristocratic demeanor, replied, "If it was a test, you have passed."
His tone, though sarcastic, was tinged with a hint of genuine appreciation. The maidservant, relieved, raised her head from the floor.
"The baby you saw earlier is my child. Tomorrow, you will leave at dawn. You must not speak of this to anyone. When you pass by the Red Hills Courtyard, avoid their inquiries and find a capable maiden to care for my child. I will arrange for them to stay at the old shrine of the Yuwen household in the inner temple. There, the child will grow and eventually be trained to rule and become the future master of the Eyes of God."
The maidservant was surprised but overjoyed at the news of Yuwen Hao's child, who would inherit the Yuwen household and the Eyes of God. She wondered about the child's mother but focused on her master's instructions. "Yes, Master. It shall be done as you wish."
"Tonight, you will stay in my bedchamber and watch over my son until you leave at dawn."
"You may leave."
The maidservant bowed again, acknowledging her orders.