Chapter 117
As the morning sun rose over the eastern horizon, the purple hues at the foot of the mountain grew increasingly dense, and Xia Jingshi's frown deepened.
The disparity in numbers between the two sides was too great. Though they held the Holy Emperor as a bargaining chip, the chances of retreating unscathed were slim at best...
A gentle tap on his shoulder made him turn instinctively, meeting Yixiao's refreshed and cheerful smile. "Your Highness, go and rest. I'll keep watch here."
"I will in a moment," Xia Jingshi replied, shifting his gaze back to the mountain's base. "Look, the Imperial Guards are gathering in greater numbers down there." Yixiao peered for a while before curling her lips dismissively. "No matter how many there are, they won't dare launch a full assault as long as we hold the Holy Emperor."
"That may be true for now," Xia Jingshi sighed softly. "But if this turns into a stalemate, we have no chance of winning." "I said the same thing, but Feng Suige insists there's nothing to worry about," Yixiao grumbled, shaking her head in dissatisfaction. "When I asked him why, he refused to explain. Then, the moment I turned away, he vanished. Who knows what he's up to—always so secretive..."
Xia Jingshi watched her quietly. Even as she complained, her eyes and brows carried a faint smile.
What he couldn't achieve, that man had accomplished.
And what he could give, he would not withhold.
So he smiled too.
Bathed in the golden morning light, the two stood side by side, each lost in their own thoughts, yet both wearing expressions of happiness and contentment.
Feng Xiyang stood frozen in the distance, feeling as though her heart had turned to ice, the chill spreading from her core to the tips of her toes.
"...Send scouts again. Instruct the reconnaissance unit to report immediately, even if it's just a rumor," Xiao Weiran ordered decisively as he took the medicine bowl from the attendant and downed it in one gulp.
Setting the bowl aside, he coughed lightly a few times. A nearby officer hurried forward to pat his back. "Canjun, you should rest for a while." "No need," Xiao Weiran waved him off, flipping through the newly delivered reports from various fronts. The officer could only step back, clasping his hands in resignation.
The wheels rumbled heavily over the rugged mountain path, the swaying carriage curtains unable to block the dust kicked up by the horses ahead. The dregs of medicine left in the bowl were soon coated with a thick layer of dirt.
"Canjun Xiao!" A Military General riding beside the carriage suddenly exclaimed in surprise. "There's thick smoke rising over there!"
Xiao Weiran's heart skipped a beat. He swiftly lifted the side curtain and looked ahead.
Amid the rolling mountain ridges, a thick black plume shot straight into the sky, piercing the clouds and lingering ominously against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds.
Yixiao crouched upwind, torn between laughter and exasperation as she watched the group below coughing and gasping. Feng Suige had initially tried to tough it out, lending a hand, but even he eventually succumbed to the choking smoke, rubbing his reddened eyes as he retreated to Yixiao's side. "Hah, this place is too small. If it were bigger, things would go much smoother."
Covering her nose, Yixiao took a step back. "You smell awful... Go change your clothes." Feng Suige glared at her. "You're rejecting me?" If not for you, why would I, a dignified Imperial Son and Regent, suffer in this wilderness like this?"
He expected Yixiao to snap back, but instead, she quietly lowered her head. After a long pause, she murmured softly, "I understand... Thank you..."A moment of silence passed, and the clamor below suddenly grew much louder.
Feng Suige only remained quiet for a short while before resuming his usual careless demeanor. "Forget it. When you're being polite, it usually doesn't bode well..." Before he could finish, Feng Suige leaped aside to dodge the clods of dirt thrown at his head. Glaring at Yixiao, he snapped, "What are you doing?!"
Over on her side, Yixiao dusted the dirt off her hands as she stood up. Seeing his furious expression, she smugly tilted her chin at him. "I'm proving how right you are, Your Highness!"
Feng Suige stomped his foot and lunged straight for her. Yixiao let out a yelp and turned to run, only to collide headfirst into Xia Jingshi, who had hurried over. Dazed, she looked up. "Your Highness? Why aren't you resting?" Xia Jingshi gave a slight tug at the corner of his mouth. "If you're free, go keep watch at the front for a while. I have something to discuss with the Phoenix Prince."
Yixiao acknowledged with a sound, bared her teeth at Feng Suige, and then dashed off toward the lookout post ahead.
"What's wrong?" Feng Suige had already noticed the unusual look in Xia Jingshi's eyes and asked in a low voice. Xia Jingshi pressed his lips tightly together, a storm brewing in his gaze. "Something's happened. Come with me."
"Weren't you told not to leave under any circumstances? How could you let him escape?!" Feng Suige roared. Before him knelt two pale-faced Vermillion Sand Guards. Nearby, the thick rope that had bound the Holy Emperor to the tree lay severed on the ground like a dead snake.
"Now's not the time for anger," Xia Jingshi said gravely. "I've already sent a few men to track him down. If we can bring him back, all the better. If not..." He paused, exhaling slowly. "If not, we must gather our forces quickly and break through by force."
Feng Suige punched the tree in frustration. "This is my oversight. I should've assigned more men to guard him." One of the silent guards suddenly kowtowed, choking back sobs. "It was my negligence. Now I've endangered Your Highness. I only seek death to atone for my crime." The other guard also crawled forward on his knees and kowtowed. "I share the responsibility..."
"Wanting to die is easy?" Feng Suige sneered. "If killing you could undo everything, do you think you'd still be alive to speak to me?—Quit dawdling and go find him!" "Wait," Xia Jingshi nudged the severed rope with his foot and looked up at the two guards. "Tell us again what happened."
One of the guards lowered his head. "I've had stomach troubles these past few days. Just now, I couldn't hold it any longer and stepped away for a moment. When I returned, the Holy Emperor was gone." Xia Jingshi nodded and turned to the other guard. Under the gazes of Xia Jingshi and Feng Suige, he hesitated before mumbling, "I was just so tired... I dozed off for a bit. When I woke up..."
"Lies," Xia Jingshi spat coldly. The guard trembled violently, and even Feng Suige looked up sharply.
Xia Jingshi bent down to pick up the rope and held it out to Feng Suige. "If the Holy Emperor had sawed through the rope himself, the cut wouldn't be this clean. If someone rescued him—never mind that there's been no movement at the foot of the mountain—whoever could sneak here undetected would have no trouble cutting this rope. So why would there be multiple sawing marks left behind?"Feng Suige's gaze returned to the guard's face, staring at him intently for a long moment. His eyes darkened slightly as he asked softly, "I want the truth—who was it?"
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