The warm sun shone coldly. The Crown Prince’s hands and feet turned cold. After a slow half-moment’s reaction, he said, “Song Mo Zi, you dare slander this prince? It was clearly you who wanted to harm this prince with a poison needle. Afraid this prince would pursue the matter, you even fed this prince poison.”
Mo Zi was immediately indignant. “Your Highness, don’t make slanderous accusations. Today Mo Zi was gathering with friends at Wangqiu Tower when I happened to encounter Your Highness. It was Your Highness who insisted on drinking with Mo Zi and disregarded His Majesty’s decree by insisting on leaving the city. Not only did you deceive Mo Zi into going to the traveling lodge, you even attempted improper advances on Mo Zi. If Mo Zi hadn’t used quick wits in an emergency to dissuade your evil thoughts, I would probably have been violated by now. Poison needle? Poison medicine? Your Highness is truly skilled at fabricating stories. Mo Zi only has a small sword on her person, specifically for dealing with those sneaky scoundrels. Apart from this, there is nothing else.”
“You little slut, this prince will kill you!” The Crown Prince threw all caution to the wind. “Xiao Wei, give me a sword!”
Xiao Wei didn’t move.
“Xiao Wei, are you disregarding this prince’s command?” He’d always treated Xiao Wei well.
“Your Highness, calm your anger. Mo Zi is a court official. Even if she slandered Your Highness, she should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for questioning. Moreover, her accusation that Your Highness brought Daqiu people into the capital is no small matter. If Your Highness wants to prove your innocence, you must keep her alive.” Xiao Wei spoke plainly.
At the same time, he pointed his sword at the distant knights and commanded his subordinate soldiers, “Go request those people to dismount and submit to interrogation.”
“Xiao Wei, you believe this little slut rather than this prince?” How outrageous!
“Your Highness, please don’t be angry. This minister is under imperial orders to capture assassins and cannot overlook any suspicious person or thing. Your Highness left the city with forty people but returns with over a hundred in your retinue. Right when the entire city is under martial law, we truly cannot avoid thorough investigation.” Xiao Wei instinctively believed Mo Zi’s words. Though she was cunning and shrewd, she wasn’t confused about major matters.
Qiu Sanniang had sent word that the Crown Prince had taken Mo Zi away. He’d guessed the Crown Prince’s old lustful problem had flared up again, but he never imagined the Crown Prince would set his sights on Mo Zi’s mind. Unfortunately, His Majesty was assassinated, and he couldn’t be in two places at once. He’d been standing at the North Gate in turmoil over whether to go search for her when—thank heaven—Mo Zi returned safely.
“His Majesty’s decree! His Majesty’s decree!” The Crown Prince sneered coldly. “You and this little slut are quite in harmony. One says His Majesty’s decree forbids leaving the city, the other says His Majesty’s decree requires investigating this prince’s people. Xiao Wei, you’ve also eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. This prince is the Crown Prince!”
Mo Zi snorted. “Therefore, we should listen to His Majesty, not to you, Crown Prince. If Your Highness speaks disrespectfully to Mo Zi again, Mo Zi will definitely report to His Majesty. Though Mo Zi is a woman, I am still a court official of Great Zhou.” This was the intent behind Yuan Cheng securing an official position for her. If the Crown Prince wanted to kill her, he had to follow the regulations of the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Justice. If the Crown Prince cursed and spoke vulgarly, she could memorialize and impeach him. Even if in the end the Emperor showed favoritism, she could still verbally stand strong at this moment.
The Crown Prince indeed fell silent, naturally knowing that even though he was honored as Crown Prince, he couldn’t arbitrarily insult an official in front of so many people, especially when this official was someone his Father Emperor valued highly.
At this time, the Daqiu knights over there became very uneasy. They refused to accept interrogation and inspection by Xiao Wei’s subordinates. The horses under them snorted wildly due to the forceful pulling of the reins.
“Your Highness, please command them to dismount.” Xiao Wei became more certain that Mo Zi’s words were true.
The Crown Prince was overwhelmed with troubles, but he couldn’t avoid speaking. He shouted at those people, “Routine inspection—no need to be nervous. Dismount.”
For the Daqiu people, only their masters and kings could command them. They didn’t take this Great Zhou Crown Prince’s words to heart at all, still remaining high and mighty, utterly uncooperative.
“General Xiao had better send more people over there. Daqiu cavalry can each fight ten.” Mo Zi had just finished her reminder when the incident occurred.
Xiao Wei shouted a warning and tackled Mo Zi beside him to the ground.
Mo Zi looked up at the sky and saw an arrow’s shadow streak across the blue sky, then heard a scream. Her heart pounded wildly. Were those people driven to desperation?
“Crawl behind the carriage!” Xiao Wei’s breathing was rapid. His gaze carefully looked her over before he turned to find the Crown Prince.
Mo Zi didn’t hesitate at all. She crawled forward on the ground and hid beside the carriage, watching the surrounding situation through the gaps.
The Daqiu knights had made their move. Fierce horses trampled, swords showed no mercy. With their superb martial skills, they killed more than half of the foot soldiers Xiao Wei had sent over in the blink of an eye. What was laughable was that the Crown Prince’s guards completely failed to help and scattered like birds and beasts. Among those knights were a dozen or so archers who, in the midst of the chaotic battle, moved with ease, aiming arrows in her direction.
Very quickly, she discovered these arrows were mostly heading toward the Crown Prince’s direction. After thinking for a moment—the stupid Crown Prince being kept alive wasn’t without benefits—she spoke a warning.
“Xiao Wei, they want to kill the Crown Prince!”
The Crown Prince was being protected by Xiao Wei, also hiding behind the carriage. Hearing these words, he couldn’t help but curse urgently, “This prince gave them good food and drink, yet they actually want this prince’s life. Xiao Wei, teach them a lesson for this prince.”
Mo Zi raised her eyebrows. Although this was a life-or-death moment, she really wanted to laugh. The Great Zhou Crown Prince and the Yuling Crown Prince were practically like blood brothers—hopelessly pig-headed. Logically, the Emperor had a gentle temperament but wasn’t a fool. How did he produce such a precious treasure?
Xiao Wei couldn’t laugh at all. His face darkened as he said, “This minister will naturally protect Your Highness. However, Your Highness had better think about how to explain things before His Majesty.”
Only then did the Crown Prince realize he’d let something slip. He hurried to plug the hole. “Xiao Wei, this prince thought they were Daqiu merchants.”
This testimony seemed to be true, but Mo Zi didn’t care. She only knew that because the Crown Prince was hiding here, all the arrows would be shot toward the carriage.
“Hold on a bit longer. The city gate will quickly send reinforcements.” Xiao Wei had just stuck his head out when he saw an arrow coming straight at him. He quickly ducked back, hearing the thud-thud of arrows striking the carriage boards.
The Crown Prince had just been knocked into by Xiao Wei and was feeling dissatisfied. “You have the nerve to say this. The other side only has a few dozen people, while our side combined has over a hundred people, yet we still need to wait for reinforcements. Don’t keep hiding with this prince. This tiny bit of space—how many people can it hide? Quickly go out and figure out how to capture them.”
At this point, Mo Zi dared say anything. “General Xiao, I sympathize with you. In vain you want to preserve someone’s life, yet you receive no gratitude.”
The Crown Prince glared at her, gritting his teeth. “Whose gratitude should this prince receive? Great Zhou is mine. You people will only be able to serve as this prince’s dogs in the future!”
Xiao Wei suddenly raised his sword.
The Crown Prince stuttered, “You… what are you doing?”
The sword fell, frightening the Crown Prince into screaming.
“Please mount the horse and run toward the city gate, Your Highness.” Xiao Wei’s expression didn’t change, his eyes calm. His sword severed the rope on the carriage.
Four horses pulled the carriage. Now only one remained—unable to pull the carriage, it could only be ridden alone. “I see the garrison commander at the city tower is already moving. He should send people to meet you.”
The Crown Prince was about to nod but suddenly said, “Then wouldn’t this prince’s back be exposed? Xiao Wei, you must sit behind me.”
Xiao Wei narrowed his eyes. “I cannot leave my brothers behind. Your Highness, as the Crown Prince of our Great Zhou, should display courageous spirit to inspire national prestige. I’ll send two men to escort Your Highness.” He wanted to wave someone over but discovered his cavalry subordinates had already engaged the Daqiu people in battle. Only a few lowly soldiers were dodging arrows in distress.
The Crown Prince also saw this. His eyes rolled, and seeing Mo Zi, an evil thought arose. “No need for others. Official Song has received vast imperial favor and is utterly loyal to Great Zhou. You should be willing to share a horse with this Crown Prince. If you can protect this prince’s safety, not only will today’s offense be forgiven, this prince will definitely reward you handsomely.”
Was this the nature of Heaven’s sons? Mo Zi pulled out a contemptuous smile. “Has Your Highness perhaps forgotten that the suspicion of your secret dealings with Daqiu has not yet been cleared? Even if you safely enter the city, His Majesty is still waiting to hear your explanation. Where would you have the leisure to charge me with crimes or bestow rewards?” In her hand was a needle—not poisonous. Without making a sound, she jabbed the horse with it. Want to use her as a scapegoat? Might as well prevent him from running too.
The horse, in pain, kicked its legs and galloped wildly.
Xiao Wei seemed to see through her willfulness but maintained silence. Seeing the situation on the other side was urgent, he said to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, Xiao Wei will now go capture them.” Then, looking deeply at Mo Zi once, he charged toward the opposite side.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—the arrows’ energy broke through the air in succession, changing from straight trajectories to high parabolic arcs, coming over the large obstacle of the carriage.
“Xiao Wei, you come back here and protect this prince!” The Crown Prince stared in panic at the upright feathered arrow one zhang away from his feet.
“Just now Your Highness said this butt-sized place had too many people hidden in it.” Mo Zi felt the Crown Prince’s vicious gaze and spread her hands. “Your Highness, don’t be angry. I know you detest me. I’ll leave right now.”
She wanted to crawl out, but unexpectedly the Crown Prince suddenly grabbed her neck from behind and dragged her toward the city gate. “You block in front of me, or else when I return I’ll behead your entire family and execute your nine generations of kin.”
Afraid of becoming incriminating evidence, Mo Zi had already disassembled and disposed of the small crossbow when she saw the city gate. The needle had also been used on the horse. The only weapon was in her boot.
At this moment, several archers suddenly emerged from the side, directly facing the two of them, drawing their bows to shoot.
Mo Zi was greatly alarmed. She quickly retreated and stood upright, her right elbow heavily striking the Crown Prince’s waist and abdomen. Who knew that at this critical moment, even a pig had some vicious strength, moreover this was a pig who’d practiced some basic martial arts. Even in pain he wouldn’t let go, choking her in one motion so she couldn’t breathe, watching helplessly as the arrows came.
Mo Zi didn’t have the habit of closing her eyes and waiting for death. As the arrows came, she wasn’t afraid either. Concentrating all her strength, she madly struck the Crown Prince’s left and right waist, her legs kicking backward at his knees.
How could the Crown Prince persist? As he grimaced and released his hands, Mo Zi grabbed his arm and finally turned the tables on him.
The expected arrow didn’t land on her body, nor did it land on the Crown Prince’s body. Someone stood in front, swinging a sword to block it.
It was General Xu Yang.
At the same time, Xiao Wei arrived, fighting one against four. That cold light of Yinyue—wherever it swept, legs severed and hands fell. In moments he dealt with those people. Sword energy flourished majestically, drinking blood with a ringing sound. He turned around, his battle robe covered in bright red, his eyes devouring people, his face full of killing intent. But in an instant it changed to deep pain, and he shouted loudly.
“General Xu Yang!”
Mo Zi immediately threw off the Crown Prince and rushed to Xu Yang’s side.
Three broken arrows were embedded in Xu Yang’s chest, abdomen, and left eye, but he stood firmly, like Mount Tai.
Mo Zi’s eyes turned red with fury, shouting hoarsely, “General Xu Yang!”
Xu Yang’s right eyeball moved, seeing her. On his meticulous face finally appeared a smile. “As long as my lord is unharmed—” His voice exhausted, his life ended, his body crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound.
“Xiao Wei, Song Mo Zi, you two should learn from him properly. This prince is a true dragon’s son. How precious is this prince’s life? Your little lives simply cannot compare. Xu Yang understood this clearly. He died a worthy death.” The Crown Prince walked forward, wanting to get closer to people so he could use them to block arrows.
Mo Zi felt her heart about to explode with rage. She slowly turned to look at him, tears welling in her eyes.
“What are you looking at? What’s wrong with what I said—” The Crown Prince stared with dead eyes, his voice gone.
An arrow entered through his temple, half of it penetrating inside.
In the corner of Mo Zi’s eye, the shadow who had used his last breath to shoot the arrow sat kneeling, no longer moving.
The blood in her body turned ice cold. Not a trace of moisture remained in her eyes as she looked on coldly.