On the ancient path where heavy snow fell thick and fast, an eight-horse carriage made of thick brocade and rosewood raced frantically along the road. The Western Desert blood horses from the Xibei Desert occasionally kicked the accumulated snow on both sides aside. The coachman, clad in a cotton overcoat, had frost and snow covering his eyebrows, his cheeks flushed red from the cold. Even his gaze seemed frozen stiff by the deadly weather.
Wu Daoya lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, his narrow eyes half-squinted. The howling north wind swept up the snow covering the ground, swirling it in circles. Li Xian rode alongside, guarding the carriage, his rough shouts now sounding as faint as the buzz of mosquitoes, almost indistinguishable.
"Sir!" Li Xian shouted, "The snowstorm is too heavy! Please return to the carriage!"
Wu Daoya shook his head, his young face appearing somewhat heavy. He raised his head and shouted, "How much longer?"
"Two hours."
Wu Daoya frowned deeply, an ominous premonition slowly rising in his heart. The words his master had spoken before their departure echoed once again in his mind. If everything truly unfolded as his master had said, the lineage of Prince Yan might face imminent disaster.
"Li Xian," Wu Daoya said gravely, "take the eighteen Yan guards and go ahead. You must deliver the message to the hostage residence. If the situation becomes untenable, do not force a confrontation. Find a way to contact Miss Yu, lie low, and wait for me to enter the city. You must keep track of the Crown Prince's whereabouts and ensure his safety."
"Understood!" Li Xian replied, "Sir, please be careful as well. I will take my leave now."
With that, he waved to the eighteen Yan guards and galloped away into the storm.
Wu Daoya watched as the figures of Li Xian and the others gradually disappeared into the snowstorm. He lowered the curtain, leaned back against the carriage seat, and let out a deep sigh.
He could only hope that everything would still be in time.
At that very moment, in the martial arts arena beside the White Willow Temple in Zhenhuang City, Yan Shiqi, a shadow guard of the hostage residence, had just stopped Yan Xun's warhorse. His face was filled with anxiety as he said, "Deputy Commander Song of the forward city's Elite Cavalry Camp has led troops to surround the hostage residence. The eldest young master of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Huai, has also brought the Zhuge family's personal guards to the Zhuge villa. Now, they are all heading this way."
Yan Xun frowned and said gravely, "Why is the Elite Cavalry Camp getting involved? Could it be that the Zhuge family has already informed the Elder Council so quickly?"
"Crown Prince!" Feng Mian called out loudly as the sound of hoofbeats rapidly approached from behind. The young page's face showed panic as he urgently said, "The people from behind have caught up!"
Yan Xun remained calm and turned to ask, "How many? Are they Zhuge Yue's men?"
"No," the child replied, his wind cap covered in snow. As he spoke excitedly, the snow on his cap shook off. "It's the Wei family. I saw with my own eyes that Wei Shu Ye was leading them."
"The Wei family?" Yan Xun's brows furrowed deeply as he said gravely, "Since when have the Wei family and the Zhuge residence joined forces? Moreover, how could they have notified and mobilized the Wei army so quickly in such a short time?"
He looked down at Chu Qiao, who was seated in front of him, and asked with a frown, "Little girl, did you provoke the Wei residence?"
Chu Qiao's brow was tightly knit as she pondered seriously, then she shook her head firmly and said, "No."
"That's strange," Yan Xun murmured, his expression calm as he fell into deep thought.Chu Qiao turned her head, looking at the youth's handsome brows, and said, "I take full responsibility for my own actions. This is my matter, Yan Xun. There's no need for you to get involved."
Yan Xun was taken aback. Though the child still had the face of a youngster, her expression and tone were filled with such solemn composure that he couldn't help but be momentarily dazed. His reply came out completely irrelevant: "Little girl, I'm very curious about you. Until you tell me the truth, I really can't bear to let you be captured like this."
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, her voice calm as she stated, "The green hills remain, the rivers flow on—we will surely meet again someday. Moreover, capturing me won't be so easy for them. I'm alone and unencumbered, with a small target, making it easier to slip away. But you—your status and position are clear. I don't want you to be innocently implicated."
Yan Xun's eyes burned like torches, fixed intently on her. Chu Qiao nimbly dismounted, not the least bit hindered by her small stature. After landing on the ground, she looked up at him and said, "Yan Xun, I'm leaving. Though our statuses differ, you've helped me several times. I'll remember this kindness, and if there's ever an opportunity in the future, I will repay it in full."
Yan Xun smiled faintly without speaking. Chu Qiao found his expression strange and felt somewhat suspicious, but she didn't dwell on it. Time was pressing, leaving no room for hesitation here. Though things had spiraled out of control—not only had Zhuge Yue suddenly appeared, but they had also alarmed the Wei Clan and the Elite Cavalry Camp, making the situation far larger than expected—she was still confident she could hide safely within this vast city.
The child crouched down, tightened her clothes, took one last look at the somewhat dazed Yan Xun, then turned and swiftly ran toward the empty street.
The clip-clop of horse hooves suddenly sounded behind her. Before she could even glance back, Chu Qiao's small body was lifted up by someone. Yan Xun's hearty laughter rang out warmly behind her: "I refuse to believe I can't protect one little girl. Come, we'll return to Yanbei overnight. Let's see what the Wei Clan and the generals of the Elite Cavalry Camp can do about it!"
With that, he whipped the horse fiercely and galloped toward the city gates!
"Crown Prince!" Feng Mian and Yan Seventeen exclaimed in unison, shocked.
"Seventeen, return and mobilize the troops. Follow me out of the city."
Amid swirling snow and howling north winds, over a hundred cavalry thundered down the long streets, waking most of Zhenhuang City's residents from their dreams. Yet no one cared what happened that night; they merely carefully secured their doors and windows, fearing collateral damage.
Yan Xun reined in his warhorse, raising a hand to halt his Yan guards behind him. The young Crown Prince lifted his chin slightly, coldly eyeing the dense ranks of soldiers ahead. Yan Seventeen urged his horse forward and shouted, "We are the men of the Heir of Yanbei! Who are you people opposite, and why do you block our path?"
"I am a lieutenant general of the Northern Division of the Elite Cavalry Camp, ordered to seal the road here," a deep voice replied from the other side.
Yan Xun frowned and declared loudly, "I bear an imperial decree from Shengjin Palace! Who dares to block my way?""What an unfortunate coincidence," a rather effeminate voice slowly rang out. Though not particularly loud, in the stillness of the night, it somehow sounded piercingly sharp, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. A man in a deep blue brocade robe with white jade fur coat slowly emerged from behind the crowd. His white horse was snow-like, torches burned brightly, and the man smiled faintly as he slowly said, "Young Master Yan, what a coincidence. I too have received an imperial decree from Shengjin Palace - tonight, no one is permitted to leave the city. Those who violate this order—"
The man deliberately paused with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Yan Xun before he calmly uttered three words: "shall be executed."
"Wei Shuyou?" Yan Xun raised an eyebrow, his voice unconsciously rising in pitch. Chu Qiao, who was one horse length behind him, furrowed her brows and couldn't help but urge her horse forward. Yan Xun subtly moved his whip horizontally to block the child's advance, shielding her behind him. Chu Qiao, dressed in Yanbei guard attire, felt warmth in her heart. She looked up at Yan Xun's straight back; though the young man didn't turn around, a comforting feeling slowly washed over her, especially precious on such a cold, deep night.
"Moreover, if I recall correctly, the imperial decree you received specifies leaving the city tomorrow morning, doesn't it?"
Yan Xun chuckled lightly, raising his eyebrows as he said, "This Crown Prince misses his mother and wishes to leave the city tonight."
"Filial piety is indeed commendable, but surely the Crown Prince need not be in such haste?"
"I'm afraid you'll find this laughable, Young Master Wei, but Yan Xun is young and willful. When I decide on something, I must act immediately, otherwise I won't be able to sleep."
"Is that so?" Wei Shuyou's tone remained effeminate as he smiled lightly. "In that case, Young Master Yan might indeed suffer from insomnia tonight."
"Young Master Wei's audacity is truly remarkable!" The young page Feng Mian stepped forward, his voice clear and sharp. "Not just now, but even under normal circumstances, our Crown Prince can go hunting outside the city whenever he wishes. Who would dare obstruct him? By what authority are you blocking our way like this?"
"By the authority of Shengjin Palace!" A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind. Yan Xun and the others immediately turned to see two groups of people approaching majestically. Wei Shu Ye, dressed in a green fur coat, looked cold and stern. Zhuge Huai followed beside him, his usually amiable smile completely gone, replaced by an expression as hard as ice, revealing nothing.
"By imperial decree: The Prince of Yanbei Kang has conspired with rebellious commoners from Shangshen, harboring ill intentions and plotting rebellion. I am hereby ordered, Wei Clan's General Wei Shu Ye, to detain the Prince's legitimate son Yan Xun and hand him over to the Judicial Court for custody."
As soon as the words fell, flashes of silver light suddenly appeared as countless swords were instantly drawn. The Yanbei guards looked shocked but immediately rushed forward in unison to protect Yan Xun.
"Tch." Chu Qiao drew the crossbow from her waist and moved forward, positioning herself at Yan Xun's right side. "It seems they're targeting you."
The look of shock and anger on Yan Xun's face gradually faded, leaving only suppressed fury and composed calmness. Without turning to look at the child, he kept his eyes fixed ahead and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry for involving you."
"It's fine," Chu Qiao chuckled lightly. "Tit for tat. After we fight this battle, we'll be even."
The night was thick, murderous intent surging. On Jiujing Main Street, the scent of blood once again began to slowly permeate the air.
The northern wind howled through the snowy night, while swords wept blood during the killing hour.
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