In the dark forest, the snow reflected moonlight and the warm glow of torches, allowing Qin Yining to clearly see Tianji Zi’s condition.

The arrow in her back was positioned at her lower back—a vital area. The penetrating wound in her thigh had also damaged blood vessels, with blood seeping in threads to bloom like a red lotus in the snow.

Tears immediately welled up in Qin Yining’s eyes.

“Yes, yes, yes—I’m a troublemaker, I’m bad. Stop talking now. I’ll save you, I’ll definitely save you.”

She struggled to stand up and shouted with all her strength: “Bingtang! Bingtang!”

But the forest was vast, the battle situation chaotic, with the constant sounds of clashing weapons and battle cries. Bingtang was hidden to the southeast and couldn’t hear her at all.

Tianji Zi rolled her eyes and weakly cursed: “What are you shouting for? Afraid the pursuers can’t find you?”

“But you…”

“In my bosom, there’s, there’s medicine.” In just a few sentences, Tianji Zi had grown even weaker.

Qin Yining quickly moved forward, struggling to help Tianji Zi turn on her side while feeling around her chest.

What she pulled out first was an unwrapped oiled paper package containing flatbread with smoked meat, then she extracted another tightly wrapped oiled paper package—shaped clearly like a chicken leg.

Tianji Zi pursed her lips as she watched Qin Yining pull five oiled paper packages of snacks from her bosom before finally finding a small porcelain bottle.

Qin Yining ignored everything else, popped the cork, and poured the contents into Tianji Zi’s mouth.

“Too, too bitter!”

“This is your own life-saving medicine—bitter or not, you must take it!”

Tianji Zi weakly swallowed the medicine and lay on the ground, muttering continuously: “Could it be that this fairy maiden is destined for this calamity? You variable, troublemaker—it’s all your fault. If, if not for you, this fairy maiden could have had decades, decades more to eat, drink, and live freely. It’s all because of you, big troublemaker, big variable—it’s all you!”

“It’s my fault, I’ve dragged you down. Save your strength—I’ll definitely have Bingtang save you!”

“Bah! I, I don’t trust you. You must, must be hoping I, kick the bucket immediately!”

After gritting her teeth to finish this sentence, Tianji Zi’s voice grew weak. Her head tilted to one side as she collapsed in the snow.

Qin Yining choked back a sob, not daring to check Tianji Zi’s breathing.

It was like this again, always like this. Last time it was Sakura who died for her sake, and now someone else was sacrificing themselves to save her…

She wasn’t any more noble than others—why should her life be exchanged for others’ sacrifices? Tianji Zi indeed acted mysteriously and calculatingly. Disregarding Pang Xiao’s wishes, she was determined to push him onto the throne, and to achieve her goals she was indeed somewhat unscrupulous.

But what right did she have to build her survival on Tianji Zi’s sacrifice, especially when she was Mu Jinghu’s master?

“Princess Consort, how are you!”

The battle on the slope came to an end. Tang Xiu led his men sliding down skillfully. Seeing an arrow embedded in Qin Yining’s right shoulder blade with blood staining a patch of her clothing, his heart pounded frantically.

Qin Yining shook her head palely: “I’m not seriously hurt. Quick—carry the fairy maiden. Let’s hurry and find Bingtang and the others.”

“Yes.” Tang Xiu immediately ordered the accompanying Elite Tiger Guards to carry Tianji Zi, while he said “Pardon me” and supported Qin Yining toward the direction she indicated.

Qin Yining untied the sash from her outer robe and roughly bound her right shoulder to stop the bleeding. But due to excessive fatigue and her unrecovered illness, she still experienced waves of blackness before her eyes.

She was completely sustained by sheer willpower. She hadn’t yet seen the children safe, hadn’t yet had Bingtang treat Tianji Zi—she couldn’t lose consciousness at this moment no matter what.

Tang Xiu supported Qin Yining, feeling her steps growing heavier and his own worry increasing.

“Princess Consort, please hold on.”

Qin Yining’s ears felt like thousands of flies buzzing around. Only after a long while did she realize Tang Xiu was speaking to her. She barely nodded and consoled: “I’m fine, I can still hold on.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s condition, Tang Xiu grew even more worried. “Princess Consort, forgive me.” He handed his saber to a comrade beside him and simply lifted Qin Yining in his arms.

Qin Yining’s vision spun as Tang Xiu lifted her horizontally. This movement squeezed more blood from her shoulder wound, which fell to the snow with audible drops.

At this moment, there was no time to worry about propriety between men and women—saving lives was urgent. Tang Xiu quickened his pace carrying Qin Yining, while the others carried Tianji Zi with equally hurried steps.

Qin Yining gradually lost strength and could no longer keep her neck straight to avoid leaning on Tang Xiu. She slowly closed her eyes, her entire body penetrated by bone-deep cold. Her heart felt like someone had stuffed a large ice block inside—she even felt her eyebrows and hair tips were about to freeze.

Feeling Qin Yining’s body go completely limp, Tang Xiu looked down to see she had fainted and was nearly scared out of his wits.

“Quick, find them! Bingtang! Master Xie!”

“Bingtang! Ji Yun, where are you!”

“Master Xie, where are you!”

…

Everyone searched in the direction Qin Yining had indicated while anxiously shouting for help. Soon they heard rustling sounds from not far ahead, followed by Xie Yue’s voice: “Is that Tang Xiu?”

“It’s me!” Tang Xiu responded loudly, running over with Qin Yining in his arms. “Where’s Bingtang? Quick, check on the princess consort! She’s injured!”

Hearing that Qin Yining was hurt, the people who had been hiding in the tree hollow were all startled and climbed out one after another.

They had been half-skeptical about what Tianji Zi said regarding gates of life and directions, thinking she might just be speaking randomly. But unexpectedly, when Xie Yue led everyone in the direction Tianji Zi had indicated, they actually found that hidden tree hollow!

They had hidden themselves and listened to the distant battle sounds, waiting anxiously for news with heavy hearts.

Who would have thought the news they’d receive was of Qin Yining’s injury!

Ji Yun was the first to rush over.

Seeing Ji Yun, Tang Xiu couldn’t help but grin: “Ji Yun, how are you?”

“I’m fine.” Ji Yun saw half of Qin Yining’s body covered in blood with an arrowhead protruding from her shoulder, and tears immediately fell: “How could this happen! I should have stayed with the princess consort! How did she get hurt so badly!”

Tang Xiu quickly set Qin Yining down. Bingtang hurriedly came over to examine her, tearing open Qin Yining’s clothing and inserting several needles around her shoulder through her undergarment.

“This won’t work—we need to find a clean, warm place to properly remove the arrow.”

“Miss Bingtang, please also check her condition. She blocked arrows for the princess consort just now. The princess consort was desperate for you to save her.” Two other Elite Tiger Guards placed Tianji Zi on the ground.

Bingtang’s heart skipped a beat. She hurried over to look, and when she saw the arrow positions, tears fell.

“Master…”

Back in Great Yan, when she was sent to the Fairy Maiden Temple by Prince Ning, she had been Tianji Zi’s disciple for several days and received her protection. Though their positions differed now, Bingtang wouldn’t forget this kindness.

Ji Yun asked anxiously: “Bingtang, how is the fairy maiden?”

Bingtang sniffled: “The situation isn’t optimistic.” She looked around at the Elite Tiger Guards: “Can we find somewhere nearby? Both the princess consort’s and fairy maiden’s injuries need immediate treatment.”

“Liu Family Village is further ahead.”

“But both the princess consort and fairy maiden can’t withstand more jolting.”

“What about right here?” Xie Yue pointed back to the tree hollow where they’d just been hiding. “Though it’s low, there’s no problem with two people lying down.”

With the situation urgent, there was no time to be choosy about location. After thinking, Bingtang nodded.

Manager Zhong quickly removed his cotton cloak to spread on the tree hollow floor, and Xie Yue also took off his cloak. Tang Xiu and others went to gather dry branches and lit a fire outside the hollow entrance.

Everyone crouched to carry both Tianji Zi and Qin Yining inside. Bingtang and Ji Yun followed, crouching inside, with Ji Yun holding the lamp and assisting Bingtang.

By this time, Jingzhe and the others’ battle had concluded. All pursuing Capital Guards had been eliminated, while over ten people on Qin Yining’s side had suffered various degrees of injury, supporting each other as they came to the area around Qin Yining’s tree hollow.

Except for the dozen or so men Tianji Zi had brought, everyone knew each other. They exchanged greetings and inquired with concern about Qin Yining’s condition.

Tang Xiu said quietly: “Both the princess consort and fairy maiden are injured. Miss Bingtang is treating them now. The situation is still unclear.”

Hearing that Tianji Zi was injured, those dozen men immediately abandoned their previous relaxation and casualness, jumping to their feet: “What! The sect leader is injured?!”

These men were all members of Tianji Sect.

Their leader stepped forward and bowed to Tang Xiu, Xie Yue and others.

“I am Fang Hailing, paying respects.”

“Master Fang, greetings.” Xie Yue returned the bow.

“May I ask, sir, how is our sect leader’s condition?”

Xie Yue sighed: “Just now Miss Bingtang said the fairy maiden has two arrow wounds—one in a vital area. The situation isn’t optimistic.”

Fang Hailing and the black-clothed men behind him fell silent, hanging their heads like they’d been hit by frost.

Xie Yue, Manager Zhong, and Liao Zhibing originally had no good impression of Tianji Zi, but this time she had blocked arrows for the princess consort and fallen into such a state. Everyone felt some concern and guilt, making the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

Tang Xiu led people to melt snow water in containers they carried, sending it into the tree hollow for Bingtang’s use. Soon bloody water would be carried out and fresh water sent in.

After more than three hours, as dawn was about to break, Bingtang finally emerged from the tree hollow exhaustedly, supported by Ji Yun.

By this time everyone had dozed off several times, leaning against each other in exhaustion. Hearing movement, Xie Yue was the first to open his eyes.

“Miss Bingtang, how are they?”

Bingtang said: “The situation is temporarily stable, but neither is optimistic. We should immediately find a secure place for the princess consort and fairy maiden to recuperate. Here in this wilderness, nothing is convenient, and we lack any medicinal materials we might need.”

“Yes.” The wet nurse sitting by the campfire also said: “The little miss and young master can’t keep enduring such hardship either.” Though both wet nurses held the children in their bosoms with cloaks from other Elite Tiger Guards draped over them, the children were still in swaddling—how could they endure such freezing conditions?

Xie Yue said: “We’d better not follow the original route to Liu Family Village. The capital hasn’t reacted yet, but when they trace the pursuit here, they’ll definitely head straight to Liu Family Village along the road.”