Suсh hоrsеs wеrе virtually ехсlusivе tо the Yang familу in Нuajing. Now thаt the Yangs wеrе gаthеring thеir mеn and rushing towаrd the Princess's Manоr, thеre сould оnlу bе оne tаrgеt—
Тhеу wantеd Li Rong.
Given Yang Quаn's сharаcter, if therе were nо opроrtunitу tо mаrrу Li Rоng, he naturаllу wouldn't соnsidеr it. But nоw that thе сhancе hаd arisеn, a madman likе him was caраblе of аnything.
Under normаl сirсumstanсеs, Yаng Quаn wоuld likеly аrrаnge fоr somеone tо feign kidnаррing Li Rong, thеn swоор in as the herо to rescue her аt the criticаl moment. Аfterwаrd, sрending а night alone with Li Rong might stir her feelings for him.
Even if Li Rong remained unmoved, Li Ming was an emperor who placed great emphasis on reputation. If Li Rong and Yang Quan spent an ambiguous night together, Li Ming would undoubtedly arrange their marriage regardless.
If Li Rong resisted, wouldn’t Yang Quan resort to extreme measures? In that case, to preserve the royal family's dignity, Li Ming would likely still marry Li Rong off to him. Once she was wed, he could then move to eliminate the Yang family and settle scores later.
With the Yang family destroyed, if Li Chuan intervened for Li Rong’s sake, it would play right into the emperor’s hands—shifting the blame for the Yang family’s downfall onto the Crown Prince and using it as grounds to propose his removal.
If Li Chuan ignored Li Rong, the emperor could use the Yang family as an excuse to strip Li Rong of her status, either demoting her to commoner or sending her to a convent. This way, the emperor could rest assured that the Crown Prince would have no chance to leverage Li Rong’s marriage to win anyone over.
Thus, for Li Ming, as long as Li Rong’s virtue was compromised, she would inevitably be forced to marry Yang Quan.
But where did Yang Quan get such audacity?
Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes, recalling the previous life. Not long after this, the Yang family had nearly been wiped out on the front lines. He didn’t believe for a second that the emperor wasn’t behind it.
Yang Quan’s desperation likely stemmed from knowing the Yang family was walking a tightrope. Whether he kidnapped the princess or not, death awaited him.
At this moment, the Yang family urgently needed Li Rong to bind themselves to Li Chuan. Once Li Rong married Yang Quan, Li Chuan would be tied to the Yang family’s fate. Even if Li Chuan resisted, Li Ming wouldn’t believe him, forcing Li Chuan into a father-son conflict—the Yang family’s best chance for survival.
The more Pei Wenxuan thought about it, the more disgusted he felt toward Yang Quan. But this raised a question: Should he help? And to what extent?
He would certainly help to some degree—at the very least, he needed to return and inform Li Chuan, sending someone to rescue her.
But beyond that?
If Li Chuan’s rescue was delayed…
Pei Wenxuan pondered, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy. Li Rong had always been proud; enduring such humiliation and being forced into marriage would likely haunt her for life. But if he were to help, how?
He was no hero capable of saving Li Rong from peril. His only role in returning would be to buy some time, slightly increasing the chance of sparing her disgrace. Yet that chance would come at the risk of his own life—if he wasn’t careful, Yang Quan might even kill him.
Was it worth it?
Pei Wenxuan sank into deep thought.
His feelings for Li Rong might have held a hint of affection in their youth, but over time, they had long since faded. The two despised each other; if any sentiment remained, it was merely the familiarity of having known each other for so long that the other had become an inseparable part of their lives.
For someone like that—not a lover, not even a close friend—risking his life was hardly Pei Wenxuan’s style. Helping her by delivering a warning was already going above and beyond.Pei Wenxuan thought of this and turned his head. He looked at the small bowl on the table, then shifted his gaze to the box beside it. The box had two layers. He stared at the unopened lower layer, hesitated for a moment, then pulled it open and discovered gleaming white silver.
Li Rong had previously mocked him for borrowing a carriage from home, knowing full well his current dire circumstances. Though she had ridiculed him, now that they were parting, she had still considered his needs and prepared money for him.
The sight of the silver dazzled Pei Wenxuan’s eyes. Without a second thought, he shouted loudly, “Tong Ye, stop the carriage!”
Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s shout, Tong Ye hurriedly halted the carriage and asked in confusion, “Young Master?”
“Hurry back now, go to the Crown Prince’s residence and say the princess is in danger—someone is trying to kill her. Tell them to send people immediately.”
As he spoke, Pei Wenxuan jumped off the carriage, quickly untied a horse for Tong Ye, and turned to say, “Go quickly, don’t delay.”
“What about you?”
Tong Ye asked anxiously, “Aren’t you coming with me, Young Master?”
“I have to go back to find the princess.”
Pei Wenxuan replied immediately, “Don’t worry about me, go now!”
Tong Ye dared not delay. Though worried about Pei Wenxuan, he gritted his teeth and hurried back.
Pei Wenxuan looked at the carriage still pulled by the remaining three horses, jumped onto it, and turned around to rush back to the villa.
After driving for a while, he realized it was no use. By the time he arrived, the Yang family’s people would likely already be there. He might not even be able to get close to the villa.
According to Li Rong’s past travel habits, she would have at least twenty shadow guards by her side, assigned by the Empress. Including her attendants, there would be at least a hundred people.
The number of Yang family members who had just passed was about forty. They rode at great speed, with green-patterned waist tokens hanging from their belts. According to the Yang family’s practice, green-patterned tokens belonged to reinforcements. Typically, their reinforcements numbered about half of the total force, meaning the Yang family likely had nearly a hundred people lying in ambush.
Given the skill of Li Rong’s shadow guards, if she encountered a sudden attack, they could at least ensure her escape from the villa. The greatest help he could offer her now was to delay the Yang family’s pursuers.
Once he understood this, Pei Wenxuan stopped moving forward. He roughly calculated where Li Rong might break through and retreated a few steps further.
He quickly surveyed the surrounding terrain. The road was flanked by reed fields, with a few scattered trees among the reeds. The reeds were nearly as tall as a person, making it impossible to see any movement within.
Pei Wenxuan climbed into the carriage and rummaged through it, finding some clothes, flint, swords, and some rope.
He first unharnessed the horses, led them into the reeds, and tied them to a tree. Then he returned, dismantled the carriage with a few swift strokes of his sword, and cut it into several planks.
Using a rope, he connected the planks and placed them on both sides of the road. He then propped a large stone under the planks, gathered many rocks, wrapped them in clothes, and placed them at one end of the planks.
He set up several such roadblocks, finally connecting them with a single line. As long as he pulled the line, all the lines on the road would rise. Horses would trip over them, and once the lines were pulled taut, they would tug on the planks, causing the rocks at the other end to fly and strike.After finishing this task, Pei Wenxuan relaxed slightly. As long as Li Rong could successfully escape, his interception of Yang Quan's men would ensure her getaway. Whether he himself could escape, however, was uncertain.
But now he didn't dwell on it further. Once a decision was made, there was no point in overthinking.
He hid in the reed field, lying flat on the ground, clutching the rope of the trap mechanism in his hand, with a self-made camouflaging reed wreath on his head.
He was just waiting for Yang Quan to arrive!
While Pei Wenxuan was painstakingly carrying out all this, Li Rong lay on a rocking chair, gently swaying as she ate grapes fed to her by Jing Mei. "Are there people lying in ambush outside?"
She closed her eyes, listening to the shadow guard's report. The shadow guard knelt on the ground and respectfully said, "Quite a few. His Majesty's men have already gone to seek reinforcements. Your Highness, please rest assured and wait."
"Rest assured," Li Rong opened her eyes. "Why wouldn't I be? After all, those people won't kill me, right?"
The people around her remained silent. Li Rong straightened up and said calmly, "However, if we stay here much longer, those people will likely attack the villa. We might be trapped like turtles in a jar before His Majesty's reinforcements arrive."
"What does Your Highness mean?" the shadow guard looked up at Li Rong. She replied calmly, "We need to leave now."
"Impossible," Jing Lan immediately objected. "Leaving now is too dangerous."
"Did I say I was leaving?"
Li Rong turned her head, looking somewhat puzzled. Jing Lan frowned. "What does Your Highness intend to do?"
"In a moment, Jing Mei will disguise herself as me. Then all of you will take my carriage and boldly head toward the main road. Once you leave, Yang Quan will surely pursue you. At that time, I can quietly slip out the back door with Jing Lan. Isn't that simple?"
Hearing this, everyone present suddenly understood. The shadow guard nodded and said, "Your Highness is wise."
"Proceed immediately."
Li Rong yawned. "It's not a big deal. Even if I get caught, I'll just sleep for a night. It's not like I'll suffer any losses."
"Yang Quan is quite good-looking," Li Rong glanced at the maid standing nearby and raised an eyebrow. "Isn't he?"
The maid she addressed was taken aback, then hurriedly knelt down and anxiously said, "Whatever Your Highness says is correct."
Seeing the maid so flustered, Li Rong couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you so nervous? I don't bite. Alright."
She said calmly, "Make preparations. We'll split into two groups. I'll leave through the back door."
With that, Li Rong extended a hand, supported by Jing Lan, and leisurely walked toward the room.
Jing Mei hurriedly went to prepare. In less than half an hour, the first convoy set off from the villa in a grand procession.
By then, dusk had already fallen. Li Rong was still sitting on a small couch, flipping through a travelogue. Seeing her composed expression, Jing Lan respectfully said, "Your Highness, it's time to prepare to depart."
Li Rong hummed in acknowledgment but didn't move.
After a while, a shadow guard leaped in through the window, knelt on one knee, and whispered, "Your Highness, the people lying in ambush outside haven't moved."
"As expected," Li Rong sighed. "I wondered how Yang Quan had the nerve to abduct me without worrying about mishaps. So there's a traitor assisting him."
"Jing Lan," Li Rong looked up at her and said with a smile, "Change into my clothes, take the others, and ride out through the back door. Circle around the back of the mountain, staying far from the main road. Leave quickly and don't get caught."Jing Lan was momentarily stunned, then heard Li Rong instruct the shadow guard: "Assign fifteen men to escort Jing Lan out, leave five with me."
The shadow guard acknowledged the order. Jing Lan snapped back to attention, replied with a "Yes," quickly changed into Li Rong's clothes, and then led the men out in haste.
Not long after they left, earth-shaking battle cries erupted. Li Rong immediately stood up, changed into a set of pre-prepared guard attire, and tied her hair into a man's bun. Then, leading the remaining five shadow guards, she took advantage of Jing Lan drawing the pursuers toward the back mountain and shot out from the main gate like an arrow from a bow, racing urgently toward the official road!
The night wind was fierce, and in the distance, the lights of Huajing illuminated the night sky. Li Rong sprinted through the darkness, unable to distinguish stars from the moon.
Yang Quan led his men in pursuit of Jing Lan for a while when suddenly he spotted figures galloping away on the official road. Realizing the truth, Yang Quan roared: "Chase them on the official road!"
Meanwhile, Pei Wenxuan lay prone in the mud, waiting.
Li Rong's carriage had just passed, and Yang Quan's pursuers were likely to arrive soon.
His heart raced wildly as he nervously gripped the rope in his hand. It was at that moment he heard the sound of galloping horses!
In the darkness, a group of plain-clothed men brandishing sharp blades chased after Li Rong's carriage. Though their faces were indistinguishable in the night, this had to be Yang Quan without a doubt!
Pei Wenxuan silently counted the distance of the approaching riders—three, two, one!
Pull the rope!
Pei Wenxuan yanked the rope sharply. Li Rong's horse tripped, reared up in fright, and Li Rong tumbled to the ground. The shadow guard cried out urgently: "Your Highness!"
At the same moment, countless cloth-wrapped stones rained down, striking Li Rong and the shadow guards directly.
A small stone hit Li Rong on the head, and her vision went dark instantly.
Before losing consciousness, Li Rong couldn't help but think: she had underestimated Yang Quan. He seemed like a fool, yet he had managed to set an ambush here.
When Pei Wenxuan heard that cry of "Your Highness," he knew something had gone wrong. Looking at the unconscious Li Rong, his heart sank. Moments later, he heard Yang Quan's furious shouts as he and his men closed in from behind: "Princess, do not flee!"
Hearing this, the shadow guards drew their swords in unison and charged toward Yang Quan.
Amid the chaos, Pei Wenxuan hurriedly crawled out of the reed marsh, hoisted the unconscious Li Rong onto his shoulder, and with reeds still clinging to his head, dashed back into the reed marsh.
By the time the shadow guards realized what had happened and turned back to carry Li Rong away, they were shocked to discover—the princess was gone!
Author's Note: Li Rong: "I once thought Lord Pei was clever, resourceful, cunning, and treacherous. Now I know I was wrong."
Mo Shu Bai: "What do you think now?"
Li Rong elegantly touched the white bandage on her head: "I think he's an idiot."
Pei Wenxuan: "About this matter, I can actually explain..."
Li Rong: "Explain."
Pei Wenxuan: "Actually, if you hadn't overcomplicated things, my plan would have worked perfectly."
Li Rong: "If you hadn't come, I would have been perfectly fine."
In truth, this is probably a story where two positives make a negative. A hero saving a beauty? Not a chance.
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