The incident happened suddenly, with the speed of the crossbow arrow allowing no time for defense.
By the time Xiao Jinyan reacted, he saw the arrow hit Shen Chuwei's chest. Her delicate body, like a kite whose string had been cut, shook and nearly fell, but he caught her in his arms just in time.
The assassin, realizing the assassination had failed, quickly fled the scene.
Xiao Jinyan did not pursue, instead, he looked down at Shen Chuwei's pale face, his gaze shifted to the arrow feather in her chest, and her green clothes were dyed red with blood.
For a moment, he was stunned.
Shen Chuwei clutched at the arrow feather, raised her eyes weakly to Xiao Jinyan, and said, "Your Highness, am I about to die?"
Xiao Jinyan rebuked her sharply, "Nonsense."
"Your Highness, but I..." Shen Chuwei hadn't finished speaking when she coughed up a mouthful of blood.