In the Moonlight

The dungeon was not located within the camp.

The Grand Princess rode out twenty to thirty li with her personal guards, arriving at a horse-breeding farm used to imprison slaves. This farm was guarded by her own men, and only her personal guards were permitted entry.

She instructed her guards: "Aside from you few, no one else knows of this matter—not even the judicial officer. When we see the man later, whether he is the Crown Prince of Wei or not, you must keep silent and not leak any information. Especially ensure that the other wives do not catch wind of it."

Her life had been fraught with hardship. She had once been the Khatun of the Turks, later fell into the hands of the Northern Rong royal family, and married the judicial officer. Though she had enjoyed his favor over the years, her status never matched that of his other wives due to her Han ethnicity. The other wives, jealous of her, constantly targeted her and sought to uncover any misstep she might make.

The guard replied, "I understand."

The horse farm was desolate, with snow deep enough to submerge long boots. Dismounting, the group walked over ten li to a row of half-subterranean, earth-and-stone-built cave dwellings. Lighting torches, they proceeded inside.

The dungeon was pitch-black and cold as an ice cellar.

The clanking of chains as the guard unlocked the dungeon startled the occupant. A man in the corner leaned against the earthen wall, lifting his eyelids to cast a cold glance at the figures outside the cell.

A Hu woman stepped forward to bow to the Grand Princess. Spotting the Han-looking personal guard behind the princess, she trembled almost imperceptibly.

The Grand Princess motioned for the guard to approach.

The guard walked to the cell and carefully studied the man in the corner.

Clad in tattered rags, the man’s exposed skin was covered with scars, as if he had endured severe torture. Disheveled and grimy, his wretched appearance could not conceal his handsome, refined features. Though reclining, his tall, slender frame and upright posture were evident. Even in captivity, he exuded an imposing and composed demeanor, with a calm, commanding presence in his gaze.

Amid his disheveled long hair, a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes held a restrained intensity.

The guard exclaimed excitedly, "Princess, I recognize him! The men of the Li family all have such phoenix eyes—he is the Crown Prince of Wei!"

The Grand Princess lifted her eyelids and looked at the Hu woman.

The Hu woman knelt and said, "Grand Princess, I also believe he resembles the Crown Prince of Wei. But these past days, no matter what I said to him, he ignored me. I couldn’t get any information from him."

Previously, with only the Hu woman’s identification, the Grand Princess had been uncertain whether the man was Li Xuanzhen. Now that her guard also confirmed it, she fell silent for a moment, narrowing her eyes.

"No wonder Yunniang has been pining for you..."

This man had actually abandoned his position as Crown Prince and traveled thousands of li to find Zhu Lvyun. Such sincerity was truly rare.

Having endured countless hardships herself, the Grand Princess knew how precious genuine devotion was.

Li Xuanzhen remained silent.

After a moment’s thought, the Grand Princess turned and left the dungeon, instructing her guard: "The Crown Prince of Wei came for Yunniang. Do not tell her, lest she cause trouble."

The guard acknowledged and asked, "Princess, what should we do? Should we kill the Crown Prince of Wei?"

The Grand Princess shook her head. "Li Xuanzhen must not be killed. He is the Wei Emperor’s favorite son. Killing him would provoke Wei’s relentless retaliation. Besides, there is Yunniang to consider—she is my elder brother’s only descendant. Since Li Xuanzhen was willing to risk his life for her, I will spare him for Yunniang’s sake."The guard thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we use the Wei Crown Prince to threaten the Wei Emperor, demanding Liangzhou in exchange? Whatever we ask for, the Wei Emperor surely wouldn't dare refuse."

The Princess still shook her head: "That would leak the news. Once the judge, A'Ling, or the Khan finds out, the situation will spiral out of control. If Yunniang gets involved, even I won't be able to protect her. Right now, no one knows Li Xuanzhen is in my hands. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place—I'll just keep him imprisoned for now."

She emphasized again: "Make sure Yunniang doesn't find out Li Xuanzhen is held here."

Mentioning Zhu Lvyun gave her a headache. This niece was too much like her elder brother—indecisive and capricious. One moment she'd vow to forget Li Xuanzhen, the next she'd weep over the jade bracelet he gave her. She was capable of any foolishness.

The guards responded in unison.

In the dungeon, after the Princess and her retinue departed and the cell door slowly closed, the Hu woman exchanged a glance with Li Xuanzhen inside the cell.

A soldier urged the Hu woman to leave, warning: "The Princess has ordered this matter not to be leaked. Remember—if you talk, you'll be rewarded to the soldiers!"

The Hu woman nodded in acknowledgment, set down the food box, rose, and exited the cell. Passing through the stables, she returned to her narrow underground dwelling. Cautiously, she lifted the felt curtain to check both sides, confirmed no one was around, and let out a long sigh.

From the dim recesses of the chamber came the sound of a man's suppressed coughing.

The Hu woman quickly turned and parted the thick pile of fodder in the corner, whispering: "Young Master Li, Zhu Lvyun has returned from the Royal Court."

The weeds rustled as a sturdy, powerfully-built man abruptly sat up from the darkness. With jet-black hair and eyes, sharply defined features, and a pale, somber complexion, his phoenix eyes were deep-set beneath a gloomy gaze. He wore a turned-collar leather-trimmed jacket, a belt at his waist from which hung a curved blade, a short dagger, a coiled whip, and rope—the typical attire of a herdsman.

The Hu woman's heart raced. Princess Wenzhao was devastatingly beautiful, and her brothers were exceptionally handsome too. It was a pity the Second Prince had suffered grave injuries—even now, he hadn't fully recovered.

Li Zhongqian struggled to sit up, his haggard face lighting up with hope, a flicker of brightness in his eyes. Coughing several times, he tightly grasped the Hu woman's hand.

"What about the Royal Court? Has she met Bright Moon Slave? What did she say to Li Xuanzhen? How is Bright Moon Slave faring?"

"And Bright Moon Slave?"

The Hu woman shook her head. "Young Master, the Princess kept it from Zhu Lvyun—she didn't let her see the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince doesn't know whether Zhu Lvyun met Princess Wenzhao."

These few questions seemed to drain Li Zhongqian's strength. His arms trembled, and with a thud, he collapsed back onto the haystack, his face twitching, his gaze dimming.

The Hu woman sighed and comforted him gently: "Young Master, don't worry. The Buddha Prince has issued a proclamation to all nations—everyone knows Princess Wenzhao is under his protection. The Princess must be safe."

Li Zhongqian's consciousness wavered. He wanted to sit up, to walk step by step to the Royal Court, to find his Bright Moon Slave.

To survive, she had to submit to a monk! After all the suffering she'd endured, she must be terrified. He needed to rescue her, to bring her home.

But now, with the Northern Rong enforcing blockades everywhere, and him bearing both new and old injuries, he had no choice but to disguise himself as a herdsman and hide in this underground chamber.

Li Zhongqian's teeth chattered, his phoenix eyes fixed unblinkingly on the ceiling, burning with restless fire.He dared not imagine what kind of life Bright Moon Slave was living now. Unless he found her immediately, he would suffer torment every moment.

His wounds throbbed faintly. Agitated, he fell into a deep sleep again.

The Hu woman watched over him, changed his dressings, disposed of the blood-stained gauze, then found an excuse to chat with the guards who had returned with Zhu Lvyun, trying to learn what had happened to Zhu Lvyun in the Royal Court.

By evening, a soldier came to urge her to bring food to Li Xuanzhen. She promptly agreed and carried the food box to the dungeon.

Li Xuanzhen took the food box, his shackles clanking loudly.

"Did Fukang Princess bring any news of Princess Wenzhao?"

He asked softly in the dialect of Wei Province.

The Hu woman shook her head, replying in the same dialect: "Those guards are tight-lipped and unwilling to say what happened to Zhu Lvyun in the Royal Court... but..."

Li Xuanzhen's hands trembled: "But what?"

The Hu woman whispered: "I overheard them gossiping, saying Princess Wenzhao is shameless and seduced a monk. It seems they were taught a lesson by Princess Wenzhao, and they said many unpleasant things."

Li Xuanzhen stared at the naan bread in his hand, his heart slowly sinking, deeper and deeper, into an unfathomable abyss.

Her shamelessness, her fall into mockery—all just to survive...

Trembling, Li Xuanzhen tore the cold, hard naan and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing expressionlessly.

He must conserve his strength, find an opportunity to escape Northern Rong with Li Zhongqian as soon as possible, and rescue her from her cage.

"Find a way to reach Fukang Princess... ask her to come see me," he murmured.

The Hu woman agreed.

Zhu Lvyun couldn't stomach Northern Rong food. The Hu woman, being from the Central Plains, was skilled in cooking, which was why Yiqing Grand Princess had originally assigned her to serve Zhu Lvyun.

That day, guards came with orders: Zhu Lvyun, having endured constant fear during her journey, had fallen ill. The Grand Princess commanded the Hu woman to prepare easily digestible food for Zhu Lvyun. The Hu woman readily agreed and seized the chance to hide a ring that Li Xuanzhen always wore inside a bowl of millet congee, delivering it to Zhu Lvyun's tent.

The next day, the Hu woman was summoned to Zhu Lvyun's tent.

Zhu Lvyun looked ill, but her eyes shone brightly as she asked: "Where did this ring come from? Has he come? Has he come for me? Has Li Xuanzhen arrived?"

The Hu woman shook her head: "Princess, this servant knows nothing! I don't know where this ring came from—I've never seen the Crown Prince of Wei!"

After speaking, she deliberately showed a frightened expression, trembling all over.

Zhu Lvyun clutched the ring tightly. "He must have come!"

In this world, only Li Xuanzhen treated her best. He had finally abandoned everything in Great Wei to come for her!

The Hu woman feigned ignorance to all questions and withdrew. After walking some distance, she noticed two suspicious figures following her from the corner of her eye but continued nonchalantly toward the horse pasture.

That night, clamoring erupted outside the horse pasture.

Zhu Lvyun had found her way there.

In the underground hideout, the Hu woman pricked up her ears, listening carefully to the commotion outside, and slowly let out a relieved sigh.

In the dungeon a hundred steps away, the stable official guarding the horse pasture was at his wits' end, blocking Zhu Lvyun: "Princess, without the Grand Princess's written order, I cannot let you in."

Pale-faced, Zhu Lvyun drew a dagger and pressed it against her chest: "Don't hide it from me! I know Li Xuanzhen is in there! Let me see him!"The stable official paled in shock, signaling his subordinates with his eyes to quickly seek instructions from the Grand Princess while trying to placate her gently: "Princess, don’t act rashly! Let’s talk this through. If anything were to happen to you, wouldn’t it betray the Grand Princess’s loving care?"

Zhu Lvyun’s lips trembled: "I want to see Li Xuanzhen!"

As chaos erupted, the Grand Princess, having heard the news, hurried over. With a sharp crack, she slapped Zhu Lvyun, sending her stumbling backward.

"Yunniang, he is the Crown Prince of Wei, and you are a daughter of the Zhu family. Do you intend to return to Wei with him?"

Tears streamed from Zhu Lvyun’s eyes as she choked out, "Aunt, he has traveled thousands of miles to find me. I beg you, let me see him! All these years in Wei, he was the only one who treated me well. I cannot abandon him now!"

As she spoke, she pressed harder, and the dagger pierced through her robes.

The Grand Princess’s brow twitched. She sighed helplessly and waved her hand. "Go see him, then."

Overjoyed, Zhu Lvyun sheathed her dagger and hurried into the dungeon.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances.

Exhausted, the Grand Princess pondered for a long moment before making a decision. She instructed the guards: "Since Yunniang already knows, do not let her leave. Keep watch over her and ensure she does not step beyond the horse farm. There will be upheavals in the coming days. The adjudicator likely won’t think of her for now. When the army breaks camp, smuggle Li Xuanzhen among the accompanying slaves. Be cautious—do not let anyone discover this."

"Yes, Your Highness."

A guard lit a torch, illuminating the cell. The flickering light fell upon Li Xuanzhen, revealing his haggard face.

Zhu Lvyun rushed to the cell bars, weeping uncontrollably.

Li Xuanzhen lifted his head and saw Zhu Lvyun after their long separation, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

They gazed at each other for a long time.

Zhu Lvyun had left the Central Plains in anger, resolved never to return. But upon seeing Li Xuanzhen again, the rage that had driven her away vanished instantly, leaving only memories of his kindness toward her.

Sobbing, she asked, "Brother Changsheng, how did you end up in the Orda? How did my aunt capture you?"

Li Xuanzhen sighed deeply.

It was a long story.

...

Several months earlier.

Li Xuanzhen, Li Zhongqian, and their guards had rushed day and night to Yi Province. Before they could gather any information, they were imprisoned by the Yiqing Grand Princess’s men.

Fearing suspicion from the adjudicator, the Grand Princess had resolved to sever all of Zhu Lvyun’s ties to the Central Plains. She dismissed all of Zhu Lvyun’s personal guards, including the spies Li Xuanzhen had planted among them.

With communication cut off and the spies unable to warn them, Li Xuanzhen and his party arrived in Yi Province like lambs entering a tiger’s den.

The guards confronted them immediately: "Who are you? Did the Crown Prince of Wei send you?"

To avoid exposing their identities, Li Xuanzhen swiftly killed the spy who had guided them into Northern Rong. This spy had originally served the Grand Princess. With him dead, her guards did not recognize Li Xuanzhen’s group. Since Zhu Lvyun had been sent to the Royal Court, no one could identify them, and they were imprisoned.

At that time, Yi Province was in turmoil. The Grand Princess’s guards were lax in their supervision, allowing Li Xuanzhen, Li Zhongqian, and a few others to kill the guards and escape.

With their spy dead and only a rudimentary grasp of the Hu language, they struggled to communicate. Pursued by soldiers, they suffered casualties and had no time to gather information slowly. After discussing their options, they decided to head directly to Haidu Aling’s territory. Li Yaoying was surely in his camp—they could infiltrate it first and plan their next move from there.A few days later, the group located Haidu Aling's territory. Just as they changed into herdsmen's clothing to infiltrate the camp, thunderous rumbling echoed from the horizon. A well-organized cavalry unit suddenly charged forward, deploying in formation and surrounding the encampment.

War horns blared as the commanding officer declared loudly: "By order of The First Prince, we are taking over Haidu Aling's territory! All must lay down your weapons and surrender! Those who resist will be executed without mercy!"

Following this, dozens of archers galloped forth on horseback, drawing their bows and releasing a volley of arrows that turned a dozen Northern Rong soldiers attempting to break through the encirclement into human pincushions.

Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian exchanged glances, realizing they had likely been drawn into the conflict between the Northern Rong princes.

Haidu Aling's subordinates refused to surrender without a fight. With furious shouts, they quickly rallied their forces and launched a counterattack against The First Prince's troops. The two sides immediately engaged in fierce combat, causing the entire camp to tremble with the violence of the clash.

Growing increasingly anxious, Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian took advantage of the chaos to enter the camp in search of Li Yaoying, but found no trace of her.

As the battle neared its end with Haidu Aling's camp on the verge of falling, the two brothers made a decisive move. With their personal guards, they cut down Northern Rong soldiers and rescued one of Haidu Aling's Han Chinese subordinates, fighting their way out of the encirclement with him.

"Where is Princess Wenzhao?" Li Zhongqian pressed his blade against the Han subordinate's arm as he demanded.

The terrified subordinate turned pale: "Princess Wenzhao? Do you mean the Wei princess that the prince captured from the Yelu Tribe?"

Li Xuanzhen's expression turned grim: "Exactly. Where has Haidu Aling imprisoned her?"

The Han subordinate hurriedly replied: "I know! I know where Princess Wenzhao is held! She's imprisoned together with the Yelu Tribe captives! The prince is quite fond of her and keeps her by his side. I can take you to Princess Wenzhao, just spare my life!"

After The First Prince seized Haidu Aling's territory, he began hunting down Haidu Aling's followers. Fearing Li Yaoying might be caught in the purge, the brothers had no time for further investigation and could only trust the Han subordinate for now.

They traveled while evading The First Prince's forces.

During their journey, Li Xuanzhen interrogated the Han subordinate and discovered he had detailed knowledge of how Li Yaoying ended up with the Yelu Tribe and how Haidu Aling captured her. The man's cowardly nature and evident fear of death suggested he wouldn't dare lie, so the brothers gradually lowered their guard.

Three days later, they reached another camp.

The Han subordinate informed Li Xuanzhen that Haidu Aling had gone to Gaochang and wasn't in the camp. With The First Prince, The Second Prince, and The Young Prince all contending with Haidu Aling, he might well die in Gaochang. His subordinates were now living in constant fear of being implicated, resulting in lax defenses.

Li Xuanzhen remained cautious and didn't rush in, instead conducting reconnaissance around the perimeter.

The Han subordinate kept urging them: "Princess Wenzhao is right here. Last month I saw with my own eyes the princess leading her beloved Wusun horse to drink from the river."

He then pointed to a Hu woman collecting sheep dung outside the camp, saying, "That's Princess Wenzhao's maid."

Anxious to rescue their sister, Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian felt half-convinced when the Han subordinate mentioned the Wusun horse. When Li Xuanzhen recognized the Hu woman as indeed resembling Li Yaoying's maid from her marriage journey, his eyes reddened with overwhelming emotion.After entering the camp, Li Xuanzhen calmed down and suddenly felt something was amiss: with heavy snow sealing the land and the river still frozen, how could they lead horses to drink by the riverbank?

Just as he was about to warn Li Zhongqian, sharp whistling sounds pierced the air as cold arrows shot toward them. Dozens of Northern Rong soldiers leaped out from behind snowdrifts, surrounding them.

The ambushers had clearly been lying in wait for a long time. The archers unleashed a torrent of arrows that were impossible to evade. Both Li Zhongqian and Li Xuanzhen were struck. Their guards severed the arm of the Han subordinate who tried to flee, protecting the two as they retreated from the camp.

The brothers were severely wounded, and the few remaining guards were outnumbered. Fighting while retreating, they eventually exhausted their strength and were captured.

The one-armed Han subordinate, sweating profusely from pain, sneered: "Prince Aling said every Han coming to rescue Princess Wenzhao must be captured! You men are either noble or wealthy. Judging by your age and skills, one of you must be Li Zhongqian, Princess Wenzhao's own brother. Capturing Li Zhongqian means capturing Princess Wenzhao! When the prince returns, this will be a great merit!"

Li Xuanzhen's eyes nearly burst with rage, realizing from the subordinate's words Li Yaoying's true whereabouts: She wasn't here! Haidu Aling had set a trap to use Li Zhongqian against Li Yaoying!

The Han subordinate threw them into a sheep pen and locked them in.

Li Zhongqian, still recovering from previous injuries, now suffered aggravated wounds from the arrows. His condition was critical, leaving Li Xuanzhen helpless.

Soon, the hastily bandaged Han subordinate brought a Hu woman to the sheep pen. Pointing at Li Xuanzhen and the others, he asked: "Look carefully, do you recognize any? Which one is Li Zhongqian?"

Li Xuanzhen's heart grew heavy. He had seen this Hu woman named Tali during his visit to the Yelu Tribe.

Unexpectedly, Tali squinted and examined each of them carefully before timidly saying: "This slave doesn't recognize any of them. I've never seen them before."

The Han subordinate left with a cold laugh.

Li Xuanzhen thought Tali had forgotten him, but she glanced back at him with meaningful eyes.

He remained expressionless.

That night, Tali brought them food. Gazing at Li Zhongqian's phoenix-like eyes and thick brows, she said: "Young master must be Princess Wenzhao's own brother. When I was in Chang'an, I often heard the prince's household mention you. The princess said no matter where she ended up, you would surely come to rescue her..."

Here she frowned at Li Xuanzhen, seemingly puzzled why the man who escorted the princess to her marriage was also here.

Li Xuanzhen remained silent.

Drenched in sweat, Li Zhongqian struggled upright despite the pain: "You know Bright Moon Slave? Where is she?!"

Tali whispered: "Young master, don't worry. Princess Wenzhao is safe now. She's in the Royal Court, under the Buddha Prince's protection."

Li Xuanzhen jerked his head up, pupils contracting.

Li Yaoying in the Royal Court?

How could she know the monk monarch he wanted to ally with?

Before he could inquire further, Tali cautiously glanced around and lowered her voice: "Young master, Prince Aling is determined to capture the princess. The Buddha Prince declared to all kingdoms that she is his Girl of Matanga, leaving Prince Aling no opportunity. The judicial officer suggested blocking information and luring the princess's relatives to rescue her. The prince knows you're the only person the princess cares about. He set this elaborate trap specifically for you."Li Zhongqian, dazed and confused, heard her say that Li Yaoying was now safe, but nothing else registered.

Li Xuanzhen listened with a cold sweat breaking out, his heart still trembling with fear.

He asked, "Where is Haidu Aling now?"

They had to escape before Haidu Aling returned.

Tali shook her head: "No one knows where Prince Aling is. The situation is chaotic right now. Young master, you must escape quickly. The prince will surely use you to threaten Princess Wenzhao. Some of his subordinates accompanied him to the Han lands and will definitely recognize you. Once they find someone who can identify you, escape will be impossible."

After speaking, she hurried away.

Li Xuanzhen leaned against the wall, watching the severely wounded Li Zhongqian. He closed his eyes briefly and issued orders to his personal guards.

"Haidu Aling is unfathomable. We must find a way to leave this place quickly. I will create an opportunity for chaos—use the confusion to take Li Zhongqian and escape to the Royal Court."

The guards hesitated anxiously. "And what about you, Your Highness?"

Li Xuanzhen pulled the iron arrow from his arm with a muffled grunt, his expression unchanged as he gazed into the night beyond the sheep pen.

"If Li Zhongqian dies here... she will never forgive me."

Li Yaoying had once said that for Li Zhongqian’s sake, she would perish together with him.

At the time, Li Xuanzhen had dismissed it as angry words.

His heart was filled only with hatred; he hadn’t taken her seriously. Subconsciously, he believed that once Li Zhongqian was dead and she had no one to rely on, she would eventually face reality...

And then?

He had never truly considered what would come after.

His mother’s dying words weighed heavily on him, an immense burden pressing on his heart. He was focused on swiftly eliminating Li Zhongqian but avoided contemplating how to deal with her afterward.

Kill her?

Torture her?

Or imprison her, forcing her to submit?

Li Xuanzhen refused to dwell on it, as if everything would resolve itself once Xie Guifei and Li Zhongqian were dead.

The first time he realized he might soften toward her was in Xiangzhou.

That night, after the Wei army’s victory, during the celebration feast, Li Yaoying appeared beside Li Zhongqian dressed as a young servant. She knelt obediently, pouring wine and serving dishes to her brother, but her long, expressive eyes darted around, eagerly taking in the lively scene.

While others remained unaware, Li Xuanzhen recognized her at a glance and sneered inwardly.

She disliked constraints—back in Chibi, she often disguised herself as a young nobleman to play at the docks. Truly Li Zhongqian’s sister, fond of mischief.

Mid-feast, a dancer suddenly revealed a weapon, intent on assassinating Li Zhongqian.

Li Zhongqian, half-drunk, remained oblivious to the danger. Li Xuanzhen watched coldly, imagining the scene of Li Zhongqian bleeding out, a strange thrill surging through him.

He longed for Li Zhongqian’s death and would stop at nothing to achieve it.

Yet, the next moment, a chill swept through him, and his hand involuntarily reached for his sword.

Li Yaoying threw herself over Li Zhongqian without hesitation. She knew no martial arts—a young lady who couldn’t even lift a long table—yet the moment she saw the dancer’s dagger, she acted decisively, resolutely shielding her brother.

The blade came down upon her.

The sound of fabric tearing under the sharp edge was unmistakably clear.

In that instant, Li Xuanzhen felt a roaring in his ears, the scene before him blurring as if all the blood in his body had boiled over, exploding in his mind.

He drew his sword and lunged forward like a flash. By the time he regained his senses, the dancer lay dead at his feet.Though still half-drunk, Li Zhongqian instinctively rolled on the ground with Li Yaoying in his arms the moment he sensed the murderous intent, narrowly dodging the blade.

The others at the banquet quickly reacted, swarming forward to kick aside the dancer’s corpse.

Li Zhongqian, now mostly sobered, flew into a rage. He scrambled to his feet and hurried away, carrying the unconscious Li Yaoying.

Li Xuanzhen stood rooted to the spot, drenched in blood, oblivious to the chaos around him.

His gaze fixed on Li Yaoying’s tightly shut eyes in Li Zhongqian’s embrace, his long sword clattered to the ground.

Li Zhongqian would rather suffer injury himself than let harm come to her. Though his reaction had been a beat slow, the dancer had still failed in her attempt.

If that was the case, why had he interfered?

If he had come to his senses back then, none of the subsequent events would have unfolded, and Li Yaoying would not have endured so much suffering.

Now, Li Zhongqian had come to Northern Rong to save her. If he were to die here, Li Yaoying might someday suspect it was intentional when she learned the truth.

She would hate him for the rest of her life.

Blood gushed from the wound on his arm, the pain searing through him. Li Xuanzhen closed his eyes and said, “I’ve always been tough—it’s not so easy for me to die. Li Zhongqian isn’t as resilient as I am. Don’t worry about me; take him away first. I’ll draw their attention.”

Besides… if he fell into Haidu Aling’s hands, it wouldn’t pose a threat to Li Yaoying.

She didn’t care whether he lived or died.

The guards exchanged glances, sighed deeply, and softly acknowledged his orders.