The rugged peaks etched a formidable silhouette against the night sky. A figure galloping on horseback shot forth like an arrow from a powerful crossbow, arriving at Shen Xihe’s side in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
Shen Xihe tossed the firestarter aside and rolled down the opposite slope, only to find the ground littered with sharp gravel. Her wrist was scraped in several places, stinging with a burning pain. Though she was not a delicate person by nature, her body was sensitive. Assured of temporary safety and spotting a seemingly clean puddle nearby, she drew the handkerchief tucked at her waist, dampened it, and carefully cleaned her wounds.
The sound of hoofbeats startled her to her feet. Before she could turn around, a warm, broad embrace enveloped her from behind. Arms like iron cables held her tightly, trembling slightly as if unable to withstand the chill of the cold night.
The familiar scent of medicinal herbs made Shen Xihe release the trigger mechanism on her wrist. Yet, she disliked being touched by anyone other than family, regardless of gender. Uncomfortable, she struggled slightly.
However, Xiao Huayong’s iron-like arms, with their immense strength, rendered her efforts futile. She could only utter a low, warning tone: "Let go."
"Just a moment, just a moment," he pleaded softly, closing his eyes.
Let him feel her warmth and presence, to reassure himself that she was safe and still here.
Shen Xihe was taken aback by the lingering fear in his voice, but only for an instant. As she prepared to speak again, Xiao Huayong released her, his eyes filled with concern as he scanned her from head to toe. Noticing the handkerchief wrapped around her hand, he grasped both her hands: "Are you injured? Is it serious? Does it hurt? Are there any other injuries?"
Shen Xihe withdrew her hands. "Your Highness, why are you here?"
His hands now empty, the night breeze brushed his palms with a hollow chill. Xiao Huayong slowly clenched his fingers, grasping nothing. "I... I was worried about you."
"Does Your Highness know who is behind this?" Shen Xihe asked urgently.
Shen Xihe assumed that unless Xiao Huayong had uncovered the mastermind, he would not have worried she couldn’t handle it and come personally.
No matter the time or place, her focus remained on the bigger picture and pressing matters. Xiao Huayong sighed inwardly. "Let’s not discuss this now. First, find a safe place to check your injuries."
"I’m fine," Shen Xihe replied. Her most painful injury was not the scrapes or the bruises from rolling down the slope, but the impact from Haidongqing’s collision, which had likely left her shoulder badly bruised.
Xiao Huayong had arrived with his men, especially those who had been scouting ahead for Shen Xihe. They had now returned to reinforce the area. Whether it was Shen Xihe’s location or the positions of Mo Yuan and Teng Jing on the mountain, there was little left to worry about.
Difi, lagging slightly behind Xiao Huayong, had gone ahead to the campsite, repaired Shen Xihe’s carriage, and brought it over.
Xiao Huayong cast him an approving glance. Difi puffed out his chest proudly—he was certain he was more likable and understood his master better than his elder brother!
Xiao Huayong helped Shen Xihe into the carriage. Hongyu had also caught up and intended to follow them inside, but as she placed one foot on the carriage step, Xiao Huayong paused.
Hongyu froze in place. Under the moonless night, a lantern hanging from the edge of the carriage clearly illuminated Xiao Huayong’s displeased expression. For a moment, Hongyu instinctively stepped back, feeling her presence was ill-timed.
But in the next instant, she recollected herself. She was not the Crown Prince’s maid—her duty was to protect the princess!Ignoring the Crown Prince's foul expression, Hongyu hurried forward and gave Xiao Huayong a proper salute: "Your humble maid pays respects to Your Highness."
Xiao Huayong retracted his long legs, making way, and replied with a stiff, perfunctory motion: "Go check if the Commandery Princess has any other injuries."
Other injuries? Upon hearing that Shen Xihe was hurt, Hongyu immediately jumped onto the carriage, lifted the curtain, and slipped inside.
Seeing Hongyu arrive, Shen Xihe asked, "Is there any news from Zhenzhu and the others?"
"The assassins who were chasing us have retreated, so Sister Zhenzhu and the others must be safe," Hongyu replied, more concerned about Shen Xihe. She took Shen Xihe's hand, retrieved the medical kit prepared by Xie Yunhuai, found the fragrant spices, and reapplied them before saying, "Commandery Princess, let this maid check where else you are injured."
"Not urgent. Wait for Zhenzhu to come," Shen Xihe said. Her injury was on her shoulder, which would require removing her clothes. Although the carriage's iron panels were raised and it was warm inside, the thought of a man standing outside made her unable to bear it. Hongyu immediately understood that Shen Xihe was indeed injured and asked in a hushed tone, "Where is the Commandery Princess injured?"
Shen Xihe's gaze fell on her shoulder. Hongyu, recalling how Haidongqing had knocked her aside earlier, said nothing more. The Crown Prince was outside, and Haidongqing had acted to save the Commandery Princess. Without that collision, Shen Xihe might have been pierced through the heart by an arrow. She kept silent to avoid causing any misunderstanding from the Crown Prince.
Xiao Huayong had arrived, and his calm demeanor indicated he had the situation under control. Shen Xihe felt reassured and was about to close her eyes to rest when she suddenly remembered her Jade Flowers. "Hongyu, go back! The Jade Flowers!" she exclaimed.
Hongyu understood at once, darted out of the carriage, and said to the driver, "Please, young sir, drive the carriage back."
Xiao Huayong, standing outside, naturally heard Shen Xihe's words. He leaped onto the carriage, sat outside, and ordered the driver, "Drive."
By the time they returned, the remaining guards at the campsite were still sound asleep. Shen Xihe rushed to the Jade Flowers and found that several plants had chosen to bloom that very night but had already withered. Fortunately, two plants had not yet bloomed, though she couldn't help feeling disappointed.
"Next year, we'll cultivate some in the palace," Xiao Huayong said softly. He glanced at the sky, which was gradually lightening. "The rest likely won't bloom tonight. Let's return and rest."
Shen Xihe knew that Jade Flowers wouldn't bloom after dawn and didn't insist on staying. She returned to the village, and before long, Zhenzhu and Moyu arrived together, both bearing traces of blood on their clothes.
"Were there any casualties?" Shen Xihe asked.
Not only Zhenzhu and Mo Yuan, but all the others were people she had brought from the northwest. Some of their parents were still waiting anxiously back home.
"Commandery Princess, rest assured, no one was lost. They all sustained minor injuries. The enemy intended to trap us from within and without, but fortunately, the Commandery Princess's fragrant spices incapacitated most of the bandits in the stronghold," Zhenzhu reported.
Just as Shen Xihe had suspected, the bandits driven out during the day were indeed escapees. However, after being discovered, they deliberately lured Shen Xihe's group. To avoid exposing their tracks, they didn't dare follow Zhenzhu too closely and hadn't anticipated that Shen Xihe would use the wind to disperse the incapacitating fragrance.
This averted a fierce battle. Those incapacitated in the stronghold were captured alive. Shen Xihe had added fine fragrant spices to the explosives, and the dispersed fragrance also incapacitated many, allowing for their capture.
"Sister Zhenzhu, please check the Commandery Princess's injury quickly," Hongyu urged, still concerned.
"Where is the Commandery Princess injured?" Zhenzhu asked, growing tense.Shen Xihe glanced at Xiao Huayong, who rubbed his nose and tactfully stepped aside.
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