In the Moonlight

When Li Yaoying awoke, she was met with waves of mournful weeping.

Before her bed knelt a crowd of maidservants, all trembling with fear as they continuously wiped away tears. Shadows flickered at the door, outside the windows, and along the corridors, where hushed conversations were punctuated by occasional sobs.

Yaoying lay dazed for a moment before sitting up, discovering a crumpled battle report beside her hand.

Elder Brother was dead.

She no longer had a brother in this world.

The person who had treated her best was gone.

The elder brother who had always stood before her as her protector, who had cherished her like a precious pearl in his palm—she would never see him again.

From now on, in this turbulent world full of hardship and danger, she would be utterly alone.

Elder Brother, don't leave me behind. I'm afraid.

Yaoying sat motionless, her mind blank.

She had known from the very beginning how this would end. She shouldn't have overestimated her strength and tried to alter Li Zhongqian's fate. Knowing full well that Li Xuanzhen would be the ultimate victor, why hadn't she been wiser and chosen to align herself with him?

Had she done so, she wouldn't have needed to tread so carefully, to constantly look over her shoulder and weigh every decision.

But Li Zhongqian was the brother she had depended on for survival!

He was the brother who had carried her, when she couldn't walk, to see the apricot blossoms in the courtyard; who had patiently fed her medicine day after day, holding her hand to teach her writing and reading; who had risked his life to cross battlefields alone, pulling her from piles of corpses, then carrying her—gravely ill—over mountains and valleys, trekking a thousand li on foot.

Yaoying lowered her head, retrieving the Bright Moon Pearl Li Zhongqian had given her from beside her pillow, and closed her eyes.

Even knowing they were but insignificant sacrifices on Li Xuanzhen's path to greatness, even if protecting her brother meant coughing up blood for no reason and making an enemy of the Child of Destiny, she would have spared no cost.

Yet that day had still come.

They had promised to watch the dragon boat races in the Eastern Capital together. She had even prepared her outfit.

Yaoying clenched the Bright Moon Pearl, tears falling.

Elder Brother, you lied.

You promised you'd return safely.

The maidservants burst into louder sobs: "Your Highness, you must take care of yourself... His Highness cherished you most in life..."

Their wails were like water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the atmosphere. Servants, maids, and concubines waiting outside the room and in the courtyard all joined in the mournful cries.

Amid the continuous weeping, a tall figure strode through the corridor, parting the dense crowd, and entered the inner chamber. He knelt on one knee before Yaoying.

"I, Xie Qing, beg your forgiveness for this intrusion, Princess."

With that, he stood, took Yaoying's hand, helped her from the bed, and wrapped her in a cloak from head to toe.

The maidservants cried out in alarm, scrambling to stop him: "How dare you!"

Ignoring them, Xie Qing supported Yaoying's arm to steady her.

Yaoying, pale and disoriented, legs weak, stumbled and nearly collapsed as soon as her feet touched the ground.

Xie Qing hesitated for a moment, then scooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the inner chamber.

Xu Biao and a team of guards in narrow-sleeved robes were already waiting outside the corridor. They fell in around Xie Qing, forming a protective circle as they escorted Yaoying out of the residence and into a carriage.

The wheels rumbled over the blue brick pavement.

Yaoying leaned against the carriage wall, her gaze vacant.

The Bright Moon Pearl slipped from her palm and fell into the carriage with a soft thud.

Yaoying stared at the pearl, lost in a daze.

In her ears, she seemed to hear Li Zhongqian's deep laughter, tinged with unconcealed pride: "Do you like it?""The luminous wall of Fu Lin, also known as the Bright Moon Pearl... the moment Elder Brother saw it, he thought of our Little Seven."

"Little Seven, don't be afraid. Elder Brother is here to take you home."

Yaoying pressed her lips together, bent down to pick up the Bright Moon Pearl, cradled it in her palm, and clenched it tightly.

She could not collapse.

Without seeing Li Zhongqian's corpse with her own eyes, she refused to believe he was dead!

Yaoying wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and lifted the carriage curtain. "Where are we going?"

Xie Qing, riding alongside the carriage, replied, "Your Highness, the Prince of Qin gave orders that if anything happened to him, we were to escort you out of the city immediately."

Yaoying's eyes burned with unshed tears. She closed them, took a deep breath, and forced herself to regain composure.

"Who spread the news?"

Xie Qing answered, "Your Highness, the Ministry of War has also received the battle report. Now everyone knows the Prince of Qin was ambushed and killed. You must leave the city as soon as possible."

Yaoying shook her head. "No, I cannot go."

Her lips trembled slightly. Not wanting to shed more tears, she lifted her face toward the distant horizon.

"The battle report may not be true. Elder Brother might still be alive. Perhaps he's only seriously wounded... I must stay."

Xie Qing lowered his gaze, watching Yaoying's face, which glowed with a faint, cool luster like a pearl under the twilight.

"Your Highness, what if the news is true? You are but a delicate woman with no strength to defend yourself."

"True, I am merely a woman from the inner chambers. I cannot wield a blade or lift a sword. But that does not mean I would abandon my elder brother."

Yaoying raised her eyelids, her expression calm. "If the news is false, I will uncover the truth and await Elder Brother's return to the capital. If he is only wounded and surrounded, I will find a way to persuade His Majesty to send reinforcements. If... if he has truly fallen in battle, I will go to the battlefield myself to retrieve his body and escort his coffin home."

In this lifetime, she would not let Li Zhongqian end up with no remains to bury.

She would bring him home.

Xie Qing remained silent for a moment, his expression grave. "Your Highness, His Majesty favors the Crown Prince. There are countless people in the capital seeking ways to curry favor with the Crown Prince's Palace. Ever since the Fukang Princess broke off her engagement and Chieftain Ye Lu sought to marry you, they have been trying to force you to take her place as a means to ingratiate themselves with the Crown Prince's Palace. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. While the Prince of Qin was here, no one dared to confront you directly. But now that he is in danger, Xu Biao and the few others cannot protect you alone."

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.

Li Zhongqian's violent temperament had kept petty villains at bay, fearing his retaliation. Now that they have no such fear, Li Yaoying is in grave danger.

Without Li Xuanzhen and Zhu Lvyun even needing to intervene, there will be those eager to act on their behalf.

It is impossible to guard against every threat.

Lord Pei can only protect her for a short while.

Yaoying tightened her grip on the Bright Moon Pearl. "When soldiers approach, we block them with generals; when floodwaters rise, we stem them with earth."

Xie Qing could not help but feel moved. "Your Highness, the Prince of Qin actually anticipated all these scenarios. He said that as long as you hadn't seen his corpse, you would never leave the capital to avoid danger."

Yaoying smiled faintly. "In that case, why are you still escorting me out of the city?"

Xie Qing reined in his horse.

"Because the Prince of Qin also said that nothing is more important than your safety. If anything happened to him, whether he is dead or alive, Xu Biao and I need only remember one thing and do one thing."

He looked at Yaoying. "Ensure your safety."

Yaoying's throat tightened. She opened her mouth slightly, tears quickly welling up in her eyes.

"Your Highness, to become your guard, one must not only win the martial contest but also first spar a few rounds with the Prince of Qin."Xie Qing gestured for Xu Biao and the others to continue forward while saying, "Two years ago, I won the martial arts contest. The Prince of Qin wanted to test my skills, so I received a few strikes from his hammer. He then asked me: if he and the princess were both in danger, who would I save? Without hesitation, I answered: the princess."

Li Zhongqian was the Prince of Qin, and Xie Qing's answer would undoubtedly offend him, thus losing the chance to become his retainer.

Xie Qing knew he should have given a more diplomatic answer, but he disdained lying.

Li Zhongqian didn't get angry. He laughed heartily, patted Xie Qing's shoulder and said: "Remember your answer. No matter what happens, your duty is to protect the princess."

Xie Qing looked at Yaoying, gripping his sword hilt firmly as he declared: "Princess, to this day my answer remains the same. No matter how the situation changes, I only remember one thing: to protect you."

Yaoying smiled bitterly, raising a hand to smooth her hair, her sorrow carrying an indescribable grace.

"Qing'er, the young men in the capital privately say I'm a peerless beauty they've never seen before. What about you? Do you think I'm beautiful?"

Xie Qing was stunned for a long moment before answering: "Your Highness possesses flower-like features and moon-like brilliance, radiant beyond compare."

Yaoying gave a faint smile: "My mother was from the Xie family, my father is the Emperor of Wei. I'm what people call the capital's number one beauty. The Crown Prince's Palace wants me dead, others wish to possess me, Chieftain Ye Lu watches me covetously, and countless more have long been scheming in secret. Do you really think I'll be safe just by escaping Chang'an?"

Xie Qing remained silent.

"Qing'er, have you ever fought in a war? Been on a battlefield?"

Xie Qing shook his head: "I've practiced martial arts since childhood, but I've never been on a battlefield."

Yaoying leaned weakly against the carriage window, gazing at the tile-blue sky to the south.

She had completely calmed her thoughts and understood her situation clearly.

As long as Li Zhongqian was alive, she could live in peace for one day. Once Li Zhongqian was gone, with no one to suppress those demons and monsters, she would be meat on the chopping block.

Where could she possibly escape to?

Noble birth and extraordinary beauty were gifts from heaven, but when these gifts attracted the covetous eyes of evil men, beauty became a curse.

Li Zhongqian had no ambition for the throne and had long considered taking her and Xie Guifei away. However, with the world in chaos and war raging everywhere, no matter where they fled, they couldn't escape trouble.

Not to mention other factors, just the Li family's enemies and the various major forces surrounding Wei wouldn't let them go.

Yaoying lowered her head, putting the Bright Moon Pearl back into her sleeve. "When I was five years old, I was abandoned on a battlefield. I've seen what it's like to be surrounded by hundreds or thousands of enemy troops. The guards around me were the most loyal retainers of the Xie and Li families, each highly skilled in martial arts and capable of taking on ten opponents. But there were simply too many enemies - swarming, countless. To protect me, they all died under enemy blades. I didn't dare cry aloud, hiding among the guards' corpses, soaking in foul-smelling blood, and barely escaped with my life."

This memory had made her unable to bear the sight of even a drop of blood ever since.

"Qing'er, I believe you would protect me even at the cost of your life. But no matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you cannot defeat an entire army."

Xie Qing straightened his back, wanting to refute Yaoying, but hesitated and ultimately remained silent.

The princess was right - he alone couldn't withstand an army.

Yaoying looked around, her gaze sweeping over Xu Biao and the others one by one.

Xu Biao and the others immediately reined in their horses, looking at her respectfully."Once we leave the city, my situation won't be much better. I'd rather stay in the capital—at least for now, no one dares to force their way into the Prince's residence."

Yaoying's voice was hoarse, her eyes resolute: "Return to the Prince's residence."

The attendants acknowledged and turned their horses around.

...

The Prince's residence had descended into chaos. With Li Zhongqian dead and Li Yaoying sent away from the imperial city, those remaining were panic-stricken and leaderless.

Everyone knew there was enmity between the Second Prince and the Crown Prince's Palace. Now that the Second Prince was dead, would the Crown Prince spare them? How would those nobles whom the Second Prince had offended deal with them?

Before nightfall, rumors were already spreading throughout the residence.

The Chief Steward had disciplined several troublesome servants and was standing in Li Zhongqian's courtyard wiping away tears when he heard Yaoying had returned. Shocked, he hurried out from the inner quarters.

His voice strained with urgency: "Your Highness, why have you returned?"

Yaoying calmly replied: "There's no need to discuss this. I won't abandon everything and flee the capital alone. Send someone to the Ministry of War to inquire—how could Second Brother have fallen into an ambush?"

The Chief Steward sighed and didn't try to persuade her further.

The Princess had been frail since childhood and grew up amidst constant displacement. Unlike the Second Prince who had been cynical, she had always maintained a gentle and compassionate nature. He knew he couldn't change her mind.

Yaoying asked: "Where is my mother?"

The Steward replied: "The Noble Consort is safe."

"Don't let her know about Second Brother's situation."

The Steward sighed. In Xie Guifei's current state, even if someone told her directly that Li Zhongqian was dead, she wouldn't understand.

As they were speaking, the guard sent to the Ministry of War for information returned.

The Chief Steward looked at the guard with hopeful expectation.

The guard reported: "The Ministry of War is in uproar. Some are even trying to blame His Highness! Some say they were ambushed by Southern Chu, while others claim they fell into a trap set by Western Shu."

Southern Chu and Wei Dynasty frequently clashed over control of Shannan East Circuit and Huainan Circuit. The Xie family's destruction years ago occurred when Southern Chu suddenly attacked both Li De's camp and Jingnan simultaneously. Xie Wuliang had rushed into battle to relieve pressure on Li De. Later, when Jingnan was besieged and Li De trapped in Xiangzhou, unable to send reinforcements, Xie Wuliang held out until provisions were exhausted before Jingnan fell.

Shu forces had also ambushed Wei troops before. The King of Shu had never submitted to Li De. When Li De sent envoys to Shu to persuade monks and scholars to return to the capital, the Meng clan of Shu became greatly displeased and repeatedly dispatched troops to prevent their return.

Battle reports kept arriving in the capital. Even Commander Zhao Tong didn't know exactly who had ambushed them, but every report firmly stated that the right army led by Li Zhongqian had been completely wiped out.

The Chief Steward's face showed profound grief.

Yaoying forced herself not to reveal her disappointment and instructed the guard: "Continue gathering information. Send someone to the Crown Prince's Palace—the Crown Prince has always maintained close ties with military commanders. He would have more detailed battlefield intelligence."

The guard acknowledged the order.

With Yaoying's return to the Prince's residence, everyone suddenly found their anchor and came to seek her guidance.

The inner courtyard steward came to report: "Your Highness, those women in the rear courtyard have been causing trouble all afternoon! I've caught several maids stealing property. With His Highness gone, they're afraid of being sent to the Music Bureau. They're crying and making scenes, threatening suicide, demanding to leave the residence. Nothing we say can calm them."

The Chief Steward angrily said: "As concubines and maids, they should know their place. If they keep causing trouble, tie them all up and sell them off!"

Yaoying stopped him: "When disaster strikes, everyone flees. It's only natural they fear being implicated now that Second Brother is gone."

She summoned all the stewards."Pass down the order: those who wish to leave the estate should pack their belongings, go to the front courtyard to find the steward for their deed of indenture, take their things, and depart."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Yaoying repeated, "If any of you wish to leave, you may go freely. You have served my second brother diligently and faithfully without fault. Do not leave empty-handed—go to the accounts office for a reward before you depart."

Shame flashed across their faces as they choked back sobs and knelt.

"Princess, we will not leave! We will stay and protect you!"

They had been reduced to servitude during the turmoil of war, but the Second Prince and the Princess had taken them in, allowing them to survive and live comfortably in these chaotic times. Now that the estate faced calamity, how could they selfishly abandon the Princess? They could not bear to face her!

Yaoying shook her head. "The estate may no longer be able to protect you. If you have other places to go, do not linger. Pack your things and leave."

When the message spread, mournful weeping echoed through the outer and inner courtyards.

The servants, torn between guilt and fear of being implicated if they stayed, hardened their hearts, quietly gathered their bundles, and agreed to leave together.

The steward publicly burned their deeds of indenture, giving each a reward, and said, "The Princess has already sent someone to erase the official records. Everyone, go your own way."

Clutching their rewards, they wept bitterly, turned toward the main hall to kowtow, and departed with lingering glances.

In the inner courtyard, Li Zhongqian's concubines also wept bitterly and bid farewell to Yaoying.

It was not until late into the night that the estate finally grew quiet.

Those who could leave had gone, but many ultimately stayed behind. Not a single personal guard had departed.

Xu Biao stood on the courtyard steps, glanced at the sparse number of remaining inner courtyard servants, and spat, "Those ungrateful scoundrels! Heartless and foolish! Why let them go? In my opinion, we should have tied them up, broken their legs, and shown them the price of betrayal!"

Yaoying looked at him. "Since their hearts are no longer here, there is no need to force them to stay. Keeping them would only invite trouble. It is better to send them off early—they can make their own way, and the estate can have peace."

Those willing to stay now were truly loyal to Li Zhongqian and her.

Xu Biao thought it over and, realizing the logic, scratched his neck and fell silent.

Yaoying instructed the steward to prepare a horse, provisions, and other necessities for her.

Once she learned the location where Li Zhongqian had been ambushed, she would set out.

The Chief Steward hurriedly tried to dissuade her. "Princess, do you truly intend to go to the battlefield? You are delicate and a young woman—how can you venture into such danger?"

Outside the window, a jade-like moon hung high, its light thick and heavy.

Yaoying, weary from a long day's work, looked pale and tired. Her coiled-grass-pattern armlet dangled loosely at the edge of her wide sleeve.

"If Second Brother is still alive, I will remain in the capital and strive for him, going nowhere. If he is truly gone, then wherever I go will be perilous. Blades and arrows are blind, and one may evade them—but how does one guard against the treachery of human hearts? What is there to fear on the battlefield?"

She had considered both the best and worst outcomes and was prepared.

She would not let her second brother lie abandoned and alone in the wilderness.

The Chief Steward wept softly. "You are a delicate branch of gold!"

The Princess, raised in privilege, was a granddaughter of the Xie family and a princess of the Li house. Now that the Second Prince was in trouble, no one cared for the Princess—instead, they all kept their distance. Did the Emperor truly not have even a shred of fatherly affection in his heart?Yaoying smiled faintly. "Golden branches and jade leaves, descendants of dragons—none of it matters in His Majesty's eyes."

Li De truly lived up to being the Son of Heaven: cold-hearted, ungrateful, calm and rational, possessing all the ruthless cunning an emperor should have. In his heart, only Li Xuanzhen, born of Tang Shi, was his son. His other children were merely products of political marriages, disposable sacrifices for his grand schemes whenever necessary.

She had long recognized this truth and never expected to receive even a shred of paternal affection from Li De. To her, he was simply the sovereign.

A night passed, with her personal guards scouting for information everywhere.

Yaoying stayed awake through the night, only closing her eyes for a brief moment before dawn.

A guard from the Wangfu entered the courtyard with a tense expression: "Princess, we've spotted several suspicious Hu people.""

The Chief Steward trembled with anger: "The Yelu Chieftain still refuses to give up!"

Xu Biao immediately sprang up, grabbing his long blade as he strode outward: "I'll go slaughter them!"

"Halt!" Yaoying stopped Xu Biao. "They're merely acting suspicious. If you kill them, the Yelu Tribe will have more excuse to come harass us."

Xu Biao's face turned purple with suppressed rage. Grunting a few times, he hugged his blade and returned to his quarters.

Xie Qing whispered: "Noble Lady, these Hu people harbor wicked intentions. I could quietly eliminate them."

Yaoying shook her head.

"There's more than one group watching the Wangfu now."" She lowered her head, fingers lightly tracing the golden armband around her wrist. "People from the Yelu Tribe, Fukang Princess's agents, Crown Prince's Palace spies... You can't kill them all. There's no need to deal with them now."

Xie Qing acknowledged the order.

Over the following days, news of Li Zhongqian's ambush spread throughout Chang'an, and the number of watchers outside the Wangfu multiplied.

The Wangfu was filled with a heavy atmosphere of impending storm and collapsing edifice. Within just a few days, the Chief Steward seemed to have aged years.

Yaoying dismissed the remaining servants, sending them away from the royal residence with silver to avoid disaster, keeping only her personal guards.

On this day, Duke Pei suddenly paid a visit.

"I'll be departing for Wei Commandery in a few days. With your elder brother gone, you're left without support, alone in Chang'an—like a lamb among wolves. You should return to Wei Commandery with me."

He had only come to the capital to help Li Yaoying out of her predicament, never actually intending for his great-grandson to marry her. The sudden news of Li Zhongqian's tragedy had made him unable to bear watching the unprotected Li Yaoying be bullied. After two days of consideration, he decided to take this young woman back to the Pei family in Wei Commandery.

If Li Yaoying were willing to marry Pei Yu, that wouldn't be bad either.

Yaoying performed a formal kowtow to Duke Pei: "I hastily requested Your Grace's presence in the capital recently, troubling you to make this journey. I haven't yet had the opportunity to thank you properly."

Duke Pei waved dismissively, coughing twice: "I promised to help you once, so naturally I must keep my word. There's no need for thanks. Seventh Lady, I won't force you to marry Yu Lang. Come with me to Wei Commandery. Although my Pei family cannot compare to the powerful officials and great clans of the capital, we can at least guarantee your safety and peace."

Yaoying smiled and shook her head: "Thank you for your kind consideration, Duke Pei."

The Pei and Xie families were generations-old enemies. The only reason Duke Pei came forward to help her was to fulfill his promise from years past.

Even if Duke Pei was willing to support her now, would the remaining Pei family members treat her well after he was gone?

Even if Pei Yu could treat her kindly, when Li Xuanzhen eventually ascended the throne, the Pei family would surely be implicated because of her. How could a minor official from Wei Commandery holding only nominal positions contend against the sovereign?

Yaoying had long since made up her mind. "If there's still no news in the next couple of days," she stated, "I plan to head south."Duke Pei lifted his eyelids in surprise, staring at Yaoying for a long moment. "If you go, you may not return to the capital safely. Moreover, your elder brother has already died in battle."

Yaoying smiled, her delicate radiance still resembling spring blossoms in full bloom on a branch. "If he's alive, I must see him; if he's dead, I must see his body. Whether Second Brother lives or dies, I will bring him home."

Duke Pei gazed at Yaoying, narrowing his eyes. After a long silence, he nodded approvingly.

"My ancestors of the Pei family were at odds with the Xies, and I've never liked the Xie clan."

He lifted his head, his murky eyes filled with melancholy. "Yet I deeply admire your uncle. He was a frail scholar—couldn't draw a bow, lift a blade, nor even mount a horse. When the Emperor allied with the Xies, I saw your uncle standing beside His Majesty in flowing robes, his face more beautiful than the maidens of Wei County. I thought to myself, could this renowned Wuliang of Jingnan actually be a woman?"

Duke Pei's lips twitched slightly.

"I looked down on Xie Wuliang, despising his weakness and his scheming mind. As a scion of a noble house, even if he wasn't skilled in archery and horsemanship, he should have carried himself with dignity. Instead, he reeked of mercantile greed, mingling daily with profit-obsessed merchants! Yet the Emperor admired him greatly, considering him a confidant and consulting him on all military and state affairs."

At that time, Duke Pei thoroughly scorned Xie Wuliang, believing him duplicitous and allying with Li De solely for wealth and status. Why else would the Xies force Li De to marry Xie Guifei? Why join the Li clan in suppressing Li Xuanzhen while supporting Li Zhongqian?

It wasn't until Xie Wuliang's death that Duke Pei finally understood: Xie Wuliang had never tarnished the century-old integrity of the Xie family.

But no matter his admiration, as a member of the Pei family, he would have no dealings with the Xies.

Duke Pei lost himself in thought for a moment, studying Li Yaoying carefully.

"You somewhat resemble your uncle..."

Yaoying was taken aback. She had seen Xie Wuliang in her childhood, but she was too young to remember his features clearly. No one had ever told her she resembled him.

Duke Pei withdrew his gaze and stood. "Since your resolve is firm, this old man won't dissuade you further."

He could only help this much. No matter how much he admired Xie Wuliang and Li Yaoying, his promise remained unchanged: he would only save Li Yaoying alone.

If she wished to throw her life away, he couldn't stop her.

Yaoying escorted Duke Pei to the gate.

His attendant helped him into the carriage. Noting his regretful expression, the attendant asked quietly, "Why does my lord show such special regard for the Seventh Princess?"

The Seventh Princess had saved Pei Yu, and Duke Pei had honored his promise by traveling to the capital despite his age to assist her. The debt was settled. Duke Pei wasn't one for gratuitous kindness—why did he still want to help the Seventh Princess?

Duke Pei glanced back. Yaoying still stood on the steps watching him leave, her skin luminous as snow, her figure graceful—a vibrant blossom glistening with dew, so delicate and radiant that none would believe how frail she had been as an infant swaddled in blankets.

Xie Guifei had actually managed to raise that dying baby girl.

"I don't save those connected to the Xie family."

Duke Pei turned and settled into the carriage, murmuring softly.

...

Yaoying waited two more days, but the battlefield reports sent to the capital remained vague.

Zhao Tong had discovered traces left by the Wei army near the river valley. Following them, he found a battlefield where the currents ran swift. He recovered only some soldiers' remains and had yet to locate Li Zhongqian's body.

Unwilling to wait longer, Yaoying ordered the steward to prepare carriages and horses for departure.

Xie Qing and Xu Biao first escorted separate carriages out of the city to divert the Hu people and other spies loitering around the prince's residence. Yaoying disguised herself as a merchant and followed later.

They regrouped at a post station on the main road. Before they could exchange words, thunderous hoofbeats echoed from the mountain path to the south.A swift horse galloped like an arrow, but as it reached the courier station, the steed could no longer endure, let out two mournful whinnies, and collapsed dead.

The rider was thrown before Xie Qing’s mount. Covered in blood, he scrambled to his feet, his gaze sweeping over Xie Qing’s stern face. After a moment of stunned silence, he cried out in agitation.

“Ah Qing!”

Xie Qing recognized him as a Xie family guard who had once been defeated by his blade and later became Li Zhongqian’s personal soldier.

For the first time, shock flashed across Xie Qing’s face: “Why are you here?”

He immediately turned to Li Yaoying.

“Princess, this is Xie Chao, the king’s personal soldier!”

Following his gaze, Xie Chao saw Li Yaoying. Though startled by the princess’s unexpected presence at the remote courier station, he had no time to question it. He rushed forward, tears carving two trails through the blood and grime on his face.

“Princess, the king is in grave danger, hanging by a thread! You must save him!”

The dry, biting summer wind swept through the silent mountain path, moaning like a mournful lament.

Yaoying tightened her grip on the reins, her body alternating between chills and fever. Her heartbeat suddenly slowed to a crawl.

Her elder brother was still alive.