“If you walk out of this camp now, you’re only seeking your death.”

The woman spoke in a clear tone, sitting comfortably in the central tent of the Xiao Qi Camp, her expression calm without the slightest hint of panic.

Zhao Che had already put on his armor. If the situation weren’t so urgent, he might have severely punished this disrespectful, hateful woman for her insolence. But the sounds outside were becoming increasingly harsh, and the situation more urgent. Although he had no affection for the Mu He clan, and even felt an unspeakable disgust toward them, his fate was now closely tied to theirs. When the lips perish, the teeth grow cold—he couldn’t ignore this.

“I’ll deal with you when I return.” Zhao Che gave the woman a cold glance, his hand on his sword hilt, and said to his deputy commander Cheng Yumo: “Ready the troops, follow me.”

A crisp sound suddenly rang out. Zhao Che, with his nimble reflexes, quickly dodged to the side. A white flash shot toward him, striking the pillar with a bang. The force was so great that it left a deep mark.

Zhao Che’s guards were alarmed and shouted: “Bold assassin! Come quickly! Protect His Highness!”

The soldiers outside immediately rushed in, drawing their swords in unison. Cold steel reflected the candlelight inside, making one’s eyes ache.

Zhao Che frowned, his thick black eyebrows slightly raised, and said in a deep voice: “You are quite audacious.”

Chu Qiao tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over the roomful of vigilant soldiers, then fixed on Zhao Che. Her lips curled into a mocking smile as she naturally stood up, walked to the corner of the tent, and picked up something from the ground—a piece of silver. She blew the dust off the silver, raised her eyebrows, and said: “Is this also considered a hidden weapon?”

Zhao Che’s expression immediately became somewhat embarrassed. He barked at those around him: “Everyone out!”

The crowd retreated like a tide. Chu Qiao looked up at the tall Zhao Che and said seriously: “Did you not hear what I said earlier?”

Zhao Che coldly snorted: “Military camp is restricted ground. What right does a woman like you have to speak here? Step aside!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the petite woman suddenly moved like an agile leopard, leaping up from where she stood. Her hand shot forward, twisting to form a claw, and before anyone could react, she seized Zhao Che’s throat.

Faced with her swift movements, no one would doubt whether this woman had the strength to snap someone’s neck.

Chu Qiao smiled brightly: “You are my superior, so I won’t use a knife. I’ll just use my hands to demonstrate.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Zhao Che’s voice was cold, almost speaking through gritted teeth, one word at a time.

“Of course I know,” Chu Qiao smiled. “I’m saving you.”

“Saving me?”

“Yes,” the woman looked up, her eyes bright, with a confident smile at the corner of her mouth. “If you walk out of the Xiao Qi Camp’s gate now, you will certainly die. Every person here—not one will live to see tomorrow’s sun.”

Hearing this, Zhao Che laughed coldly: “Just because of them?”

“Yes, just because of them.”

Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes and said coldly: “The Mu He clan is involved in an embezzlement case. Mu He Yun Ye knelt at the Sacred Gold Palace gate all afternoon, but the Emperor refused to see him. Why? This matter erupted suddenly—from the reporting to the Elder Council’s investigation, to the confirmation of guilt—all within half a day. Without prior arrangement, who would believe this? Princess Eight Zhao Chun’er is having her betrothal tonight. At such a grand feast, why weren’t you invited to the palace? Even if you aren’t close to the Empress, Zhao Chun’er is still your biological sister. Why is this? The Mu He mansion is under attack. The Mu He clan is your maternal family, and you command heavy troops. You should have been controlled in advance, but why are the surrounding troops so disproportionate to your forces, completely unable to confront you? What are they waiting for? Don’t you understand?”

Zhao Che was momentarily stunned, sharp flashes moving constantly in his eyes. Then he said in a deep voice: “Are you saying, it’s Father Emperor…”

“Not necessarily,” Chu Qiao smiled lightly, lowering her hand. “The Emperor keeping you in the Xiao Qi Camp might only be to test you, to see whether you belong to the Zhao or the Mu He clan. As for those people outside, they might not be arranged by the Emperor, but by those who most want to see you dead.”

Zhao Che was already intelligent, but momentary shock and anger had made him lose his composure. Now, thinking carefully, everything suddenly made sense, and he couldn’t help breaking out in a cold sweat.

“That person just wants you to lower your guard, deliberately surrounding the Xiao Qi Camp with few troops. But as soon as you step out of the camp, you’ll immediately be labeled a rebel. At that time, those coming to kill you won’t be limited to the few troops outside.”

Zhao Che frowned deeply, and after a long while finally asked in a low voice: “Why do you want to save me?”

“Because I am now a member of the Xiao Qi Camp. If you die, I won’t end well either.” Having said this, the young woman knelt on one knee with a clanging sound, and said in a cool voice: “This subordinate Chu Qiao, Vanguard Camp archery instructor, reports to the General.”

Zhao Che looked at the young woman’s face, his expression calm, silent for a long time.

At the third watch, the clamor from the northwest hadn’t diminished but had grown more intense. The young woman finished writing a letter, lifted the curtain, put her fingers in her mouth, and blew a loud whistle. A completely black eagle immediately descended, agile and strange. On this intense and anxious night, it wasn’t noticed by anyone.

Soon, the great eagle flew high again, heading toward the magnificent palace.

On the snow-white path, a man in splendid attire, with a slightly flushed face, but still with bright eyes. A sharp cry suddenly came, and he abruptly looked up. A Jing bent his arm, and the eagle landed on it.

Unfolding the letter, fierce handwriting immediately caught his eye: The Double Star Illuminating the Sky Formation must be carried out to the death. The forbidden palace is deep; treading there requires great caution.

The man’s lips curved into a gentle smile, his gaze distant, looking northwest, toward his homeland.

For an entire night, the turmoil didn’t end. The citizens of Zhen Huang City stayed confined in their homes, no one daring to go out to watch. The battle cries continued from deep night until dawn without ceasing. The flames were blinding, black smoke rolled, and there were sounds of wailing everywhere.

The rebellion of the Mu He clan was expected. Even if they hadn’t realized how serious this matter would become, hadn’t realized it would be a disaster that would exterminate their family, hadn’t thought the Emperor would eradicate them completely, the Wei faction and the Zhao imperial clan would still have forced them onto this path of no return.

With all their family forces completely unprepared, the Mu He clan—a great aristocratic family for a hundred years that had produced many calculating ministers—was like scattered sand. The result of fighting separately was allowing the imperial army to consume them bite by bite, with no power to fight back.

By dawn, the battle was nearing its end. Mu He Xi Yun, Mu He Xi Li, and Mu He Yun Xiao were executed on the spot. Family troops suffered over two thousand casualties. Mu He Yun Ye was arrested and imprisoned. All members of the Mu He family, regardless of gender or age, were arrested—from Mu He Yun Ye’s ninety-year-old mother to newborn infants in swaddling clothes. The imperial prison in the capital was instantly overcrowded.

At the same time, the capital city gates were tightly sealed, restricting all movement in and out. The Emperor’s thirteenth son, Zhao Song, carrying the Mu He family’s clan token and forged letters from the Chongwen Pavilion, went to the Eastern Hanging 23rd Army, 26th Army, Southeast Field Army, and Southeast Naval 16th Army, conveying the news that the Mu He patriarch Mu He Yun Ye was critically ill. An urgent edict summoned Mu He Xi Chi, Mu He Xi Sheng, Mu He Xi Yu, and Mu He Yun Ye’s great-grandson Mu He Jing Ran to return to the capital immediately to discuss the position of the next patriarch.

However, as soon as the chief commanders of the four regional forces stepped into Zhen Huang City, they were arrested by the capital troops. The last hope of the Mu He clan was lost, utterly defeated.

Yet, that very night, Mu He Yun Ye’s grandson Song Duan escaped from the heavily guarded imperial prison and fled irresistibly through the Zhen Huang City gate, riding east.

The people of the Mu He family rejoiced thunderously, but Mu He Yun Ye was stunned. After a long while, he slowly closed his turbid eyes, shouted an apology to his ancestors, and shed two lines of clear tears.

Three days later, General Meng Tian’s eldest grandson, Meng Zhan, led the Meng clan army eastward to suppress the Huai East Song clan, who had allegedly conspired with the Mu He clan to rebel. The Song clan was greatly alarmed. The Song clan patriarch made a decisive move, binding Mu He Yun Ye’s daughter Mu He Ming Lan and Song Duan together, and sending them to the gates of the Meng clan army.

Unexpectedly, Meng Zhan refused to accept them. After a rain of arrows, the army continued to advance. Within five days, they breached the gates of the Song clan, the foremost family of ritual education in Huai East.

In an instant, these two closely related great families suffered a massacre. On the twenty-eighth day of the third month, over four thousand heads of the Mu He and Song clans fell before the blade at Jiu You Platform. Five generations of the Mu He clan, except for Empress Mu He Na Yun, were not spared. Even Consort Ting Mu He Na Ri and Consort Xiang Mu He Lan Xiang were bestowed poisoned wine and sent on their way to the netherworld.

On the day of the beheading at Jiu You Platform, all the citizens of Zhen Huang City vied to watch. The entire city emptied, the atmosphere festive, even more so than during New Year celebrations.

A great aristocratic family of a prosperous era, yesterday’s glory and favor, the bustling noble clan, was thus deeply buried in the soil, scattered like earth in the wilderness, dispersed in the drifting, tumultuous years, becoming another victim of the empire’s power shift. Yesterday’s noble heads adorned with gold and silver, covered with pearls and emeralds, finally bowed deeply, spraying their blood before the iron blade of the empire.

The so-called heavenly fortune and prosperity were nothing but dust.

For a full fourteen days, Zhao Che stayed in the camp without taking a step outside. Yet news continuously flowed in. These were not Zhao Che’s spies, and he increasingly realized cruelly that these pieces of news were merely bait to provoke him into leaving the camp. Though his eyes weren’t open, he could already see the cold blades awaiting outside the tent.

On the second day of the fourth month, the Sacred Gold Palace issued a commendation: Zhao Che was praised for his righteousness and loyalty to his country and emperor, granted two thousand taels of gold, and promoted to General of the Eastern Route. Although this military rank currently carried no real power, once the Emperor personally led an expedition, he would be the personal general, showing the Emperor’s satisfaction and trust in him.

At once, news of the Seventh Prince Zhao Che regaining imperial favor spread throughout the entire Great Xia Dynasty, with countless eyes fixed upon him, secretly envious.

On the evening he received the imperial edict, Zhao Che stood on the military training ground of the Xiao Qi Camp, standing silently, wordless for a long time. He could despise the Mu He clan, despise their arrogance and presumption, despise their disregard for hierarchy, despise their abuse of power and mismanagement of government.

But he had to admit that his ability to stand firm among the many princes for years was also thanks to this powerful maternal clan. Now that the Mu He clan had suddenly collapsed, facing his royal brothers who were like blood-thirsty wolf packs, how would he stand his ground?

For a full five days, the Xiao Qi Camp was immersed in gloom. Those with strong family backgrounds had already bribed the military department to be quietly transferred from the Xiao Qi Camp to the Green Army. The rest who couldn’t be transferred claimed illness and retired from the military, returning home. Zhao Che did not stop them. After all, these noble sons all understood that to establish oneself in Great Xia, apart from imperial favor, the most important thing was to have strong backup power.

Within five days, the personnel of the Xiao Qi Camp were reduced by two-thirds. Those remaining were either loyal officers who had followed Zhao Che for years or commoners who had risen from the border regions.

On this day, the snow and wind grew increasingly fierce. Zhao Che, dressed in black leather armor, waved his hand to lift the tent curtain, quite naturally.

At that moment, a white flash suddenly attacked. Zhao Che dodged awkwardly, heard a ding sound, and the white light fiercely embedded itself in the pillar. Looking over, it was a sharp dagger!

“What are you doing?” Zhao Che angrily demanded. “Do you want to die?”

As soon as he spoke, the Seventh Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty immediately blushed. After years of military service, wind, and sun exposure had made his skin no longer as fair as jade-like those aristocratic young men in the capital, but rather with a healthy darkness and a weathered steadiness. But at this moment, he was still somewhat dumbfounded. After a long while, he suddenly roared: “What are you doing?”

The woman had a slender waist and jade shoulders, lotus-like arms, and long legs, only holding a piece of leather to cover her front, exposing thin shoulders and long legs. Though her expression was embarrassed and angry, she didn’t show the panic other women would, standing naturally in place, saying word by word: “I am changing clothes.”

Zhao Che turned away in embarrassment, angrily saying: “Why are you changing clothes in broad daylight? Hurry up.”

From behind came the sound of armor clashing. Uncomfortable, Zhao Che’s eyes wandered, suddenly seeing a huge bronze mirror opposite him. The woman’s graceful figure was instantly displayed without concealment in the bronze mirror. The man’s eyes widened, and uncontrollably, he stared without blinking. At that moment, a sharp gaze suddenly shot over, looking directly at the mirror. The woman wore close-fitting undergarments, which made her figure appear even more graceful. Her face was angry, her eyes cold.

Zhao Che blushed, but suddenly widened his eyes to stare back more fiercely as if he were completely justified.

Chu Qiao coldly curled her lips, looking at him while putting on her clothes: black tight-fitting night clothes, a self-made grappling hook as a belt, two throwing knives and a dagger in her leg wrappings, a shining knife in the arm guard on her upper arm, then armor over the night clothes, a long sword at her waist, and a small foldable crossbow within easy reach, with bright arrows neatly arranged in the quiver.

Zhao Che’s brow furrowed increasingly tight, and finally, he couldn’t help but ask: “Why are you fully armed like this? Where are you going?”

Chu Qiao gave him a cold look and said in a deep voice: “I’m used to this.”

Zhao Che mocked: “You truly have a slave’s mentality, always thinking of escape.”

Hearing this, the woman didn’t get angry but just continued to arrange her boots. Seeing she didn’t retort, Zhao Che felt somewhat bored.

“May I ask what business brings the General here?”

Zhao Che was stunned, immediately at a loss for words. Yes, what had he come to her tent for? It seemed he had thought of something earlier, but now couldn’t remember. The young prince’s face darkened, quite resentful that Chu Qiao had raised this embarrassing question. He simply sat down beside the table and took a swig from the wine pot on the table.

Every room in the military camp was equipped with a wine pot, not much in quantity, only for warming the body on winter nights. Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice: “You didn’t come to my place just to drink, did you?”

Zhao Che raised his eyebrows: “Is that not allowed?”

“Of course it’s fine,” the woman smiled. “This is your territory. Even if you wanted to drink in the stables or the latrine, nobody could stop you.”

Zhao Che immediately snorted coldly: “Sharp-tongued, you’ll die from that mouth of yours sooner or later.”

“I accept your good wishes. At least I won’t die by your blade.”

After taking a sip of wine, the man looked up and said: “Don’t think I won’t kill you just because you helped me once.”

“How dare I have such an extravagant hope?” Chu Qiao said. “The Seventh Prince kills without blinking an eye. When has he ever cared for others’ lives? Over these years, hundreds of slaves have died at your hands. How could you spare the small life of a subordinate?”

Despite such provocation, Zhao Che wasn’t angered, and instead asked: “Why are you wearing night clothes underneath?”

Chu Qiao was stunned, not expecting him to suddenly ask this, and answered: “I’m used to sleeping in them. It’s convenient for running.”

The young general, rarely, didn’t mock her, but silently nodded, quietly drinking.

At this moment, a sudden rush of hurried hoofbeats came from outside the tent. Zhao Che frowned and stood up to go out. Chu Qiao looked thoughtful and followed him.

The newcomer was from the Green Army, heading straight for the central military tent. Seeing Zhao Che wasn’t there, he left a letter and turned to leave. Seeing Zhao Che approaching from a distance, he pretended not to see him, mounted his horse, and galloped away.

Zhao Che’s eyes gradually narrowed, but he said nothing. Deputy Commander Cheng handed over the letter and frowned: “Your Highness, the Third Prince has sent a military department communication, saying he wants to deploy the Xiao Qi Camp out of the city to Yucheng, one hundred and thirty miles away, to build a road for Crown Prince Bian Tang’s carriage procession.”

Zhao Che didn’t take the letter, but slowly clenched his fist, with veins bulging on his arm, his blood vessels expanding.

Half a month ago, the Third Prince Zhao Qi had personally requested to leave the city to build roads. But the Mu He affair proved that Zhao Qi had never left the imperial city, and the Green Army had been lurking outside the city, waiting for an opportunity. Now that the Mu He clan had been eliminated, the Wei faction was dominant, and he had received all the commendations for road construction and the people’s love. Now, he wanted Zhao Che to lead the Xiao Qi Camp out of the city to build roads. Was this the contempt of the strong? Or the bullying of the victor?

Zhao Che’s eyes were ruthless, his fists tightly clenched. Chu Qiao stood beside him, feeling for the first time that this prince wasn’t as hateful as she had imagined. She sighed softly and said quietly: “Small forbearance disrupts great plans. You… just endure it.”

Zhao Che laughed coldly, suddenly turning his head to look at the magnificent Sacred Gold Palace, his eyes like shining blades.

Chu Qiao knew that the seed of hatred from being humiliated and despised had already sprouted in his heart. It only needed time to accumulate and would slowly grow.

The next day, the Xiao Qi Camp departed in full force, heading to Yucheng to build a road to welcome the Crown Prince of Bian Tang—Li Ce.

Bian Tang was not impossibly far from the Great Xia capital. A fast horse could make the journey in one month, and a slow carriage could arrive in two months. Yet this prince had somehow set out four months early, and still, there was no sign of him.

Most of the Great Xia princes had experience guarding the border, following the army through grasslands, wilderness, mountain ravines, and great rivers. But this distinguished guest from Bian Tang required bridges to be built whenever crossing rivers, and they had to be solid stone bridges wide enough for four war horses to pass side by side. When encountering grasslands, they first had to clear the land, claiming it was to avoid dirtying the hooves of Bian Tang’s golden-gifted horses. He wouldn’t travel mountain paths or cross deserts, wouldn’t go anywhere without a town within fifty li, wouldn’t stay in tents, would only drink spring water, would only eat fresh tea leaves, would only drink fine wine, and his food was carried from Bian Tang. For this journey alone, there were over two hundred carriages just for carrying clothes, utensils, and other items. Regardless of what it was, anything touched by a man’s hand was completely avoided. To raise this precious only son, the Bian Tang Emperor had wracked his brains. Even the rice, vegetables, and fruits that Li Ce ate were grown on a plot of fertile land in the back palace, where outstanding farmers selected from among the common people taught palace maidens who then personally cultivated the crops before the prince would eat them.

Upon learning all this, Chu Qiao secretly marveled. To receive such a formidable character, the Great Xia royal family sent Zhao Che, along with a large number of Xiao Qi Camp soldiers. Wasn’t that deliberately creating difficulties?

In any case, the warriors of the Xiao Qi Camp braved the wind and snow for ten days to clear a path through the snow, finally getting everything in order, and now eagerly awaited the grand arrival of this Bian Tang Crown Prince. Suddenly, news came from the front: the prince had kicked off his blanket during the night, caught a cold, and had already turned back.

When Zhao Che heard this, his nose nearly twisted with anger. He mounted his horse and led his troops away with a roar. Chu Qiao watched Zhao Che’s departing figure and sighed slightly. Yet in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of wariness. This Bian Tang Crown Prince, if not truly an absurd person, must be a master at hiding his true, terrifying nature.

In the evening, Zhao Che sent someone back with the news: this high-and-mighty prince had finally agreed to stop temporarily to recuperate but refused to enter the military camp. He ordered Deputy Commander Cheng to temporarily lead the Xiao Qi Camp and stand by. Furthermore, he summoned Chu Qiao, the archery instructor of the Vanguard Camp, to follow the imperial guards to the front camp to meet with him.

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, inquiring in confusion.

The small soldier hesitated for a long time before finally saying quietly: “The prince refuses to see His Highness, saying His Highness’s murderous aura is too strong and would worsen his condition. These words were conveyed by the small maidservant beside the Bian Tang Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately got a headache. Was this prima donna prince a man who didn’t want to talk to men?

The small soldier specifically instructed Chu Qiao to wear women’s clothes. After hastily dressing up, she immediately set off.

Heaven favored them—there had been no heavy snow these past few days, otherwise all their previous efforts would have been in vain. Chu Qiao and four imperial guards galloped on horseback. She wore a fiery red fur coat, and although it was a men’s style, it looked splendid. It made her features even more picturesque, her skin as white as snow.

The distance between the two locations wasn’t far, only about a two-hour journey. However, after traveling for less than an hour, a carriage approached slowly from the opposite direction. It was gilded and noble, with silks fluttering, and pulled by magnificent white horses that were used to draw the carriage—four horses harnessed side by side, blocking the entire road completely.

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow and reined in her horse. She saw that the carriage drivers were two young girls, both quite young. One wore a white ermine short jacket with a water-pink cotton skirt underneath, while the other wore pine-green clothes and pants, somewhat resembling a hunter’s family style. They both wore hooded cloaks, their small faces frozen red, but they kept turning back to talk and laugh with the person inside the carriage, their voices crisp, carrying far.

“Oh! Sister Fu, there are people ahead!”

The carriage stopped in front of Chu Qiao and her five companions. The girl in green clothes brightened her eyes and turned back with a smile to say.

“What kind of people?” A charming voice immediately sounded. “Men or women?”

The girl bit her lip and giggled, saying as if no one else were present: “Four men and one woman.”

“Oh?” The voice inside paused, then continued: “The master asks, how does that woman look? How old is she?”

The girl looked Chu Qiao up and down for a while, then pursed her lips and said: “She’s passable, sixteen or seventeen years old, not much prettier than me, and certainly can’t compare to Sisters Fu, E, and Qing.”

Suddenly a burst of laughter came from inside, and the previous voice said while laughing: “The master says that a person who could make you, Lü Er, speak this way must be exceptionally beautiful. Let the men go, but keep the woman. The master wants to ask her some questions.”

The girl snorted discontentedly and said to Chu Qiao and her companions: “Did you hear what my Sister Fu said? Men leave, woman stays.”

They were all stunned. The four imperial guards were especially angry. Their attire clearly showed they weren’t ordinary people. No matter who these women were, they shouldn’t be so bold.

Chu Qiao, however, was secretly cautious. Great Xia had many wealthy families who often behaved outrageously, indulging in extreme luxury, and the young masters of these families were especially lawless. These people could be from any powerful household, so she needed to be careful not to offend them.

Before they could speak, the girl grew impatient and angrily shouted: “Didn’t you hear what I said? You’re truly stupid.” She took out two gold ingots and casually threw them on the ground, saying arrogantly: “I see you don’t have a jade token on your belt, which means you’re not from a clan family. This is a good price for a commoner girl. You men leave quickly.”

One of the small soldiers became furious and shouted: “Where did this little girl come from? How dare you—”

Before he could finish, a whip shadow suddenly attacked. The little maid looked young but had good martial skills. The soldier, in his anger, was caught off guard by her sneak attack. With a swish, the whip struck his face, leaving a bloody mark. The tip of the whip hit his eye, and it was unclear how badly he was injured. The small soldier immediately fell from his horse, covering his eyes and screaming in pain.

“Hmph! Ignorant dog who doesn’t know when to die!” The little maid snorted coldly and lashed out again. Seeing her so aggressive, Chu Qiao unconsciously became truly angry. She urged her horse forward, grabbed the whip tip deftly, and with a slight exertion of force, seized it.

“Don’t be too overbearing.”

The woman’s voice was cold as she looked coldly at the little maid and said sternly.

“Oh no!” Another imperial guard suddenly cried out. Chu Qiao looked down and saw that the soldier who had been struck earlier had blood all over his hands, flowing from his eye. It was clear that this eye could not be saved.

“Hmph!” The maid called Lü Er showed no fear, snorting disdainfully: “What’s so great about that? He’s just a commoner. At worst, I’ll compensate you… Ah!”

Before she could finish, a whip shadow suddenly lashed out, striking her smooth, white cheek with greater force than before. Fresh blood immediately flowed down her cheek. The young girl screamed in pain, clutching her cheek, looking back in fury.

“What’s so great about that? Just a beast with a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs. I’ll also blind one of your eyes for fun. At worst, I’ll compensate you with silver.”

Chu Qiao mimicked her earlier tone, speaking coldly, raising the whip to strike again.

The girl was tough, not crying out, only gritting her teeth as she looked at Chu Qiao, her eyes filled with extreme hatred. She angrily said: “You dead girl, I won’t let you off!”

“Who needs you to let me off?” Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes and asked in return. “Didn’t you just say you wanted to buy me? Now let’s see what you’re capable of.”

With that, she immediately threw a flying knife, darting forward like lightning, and fiercely stabbed it into the rump of one of the carriage horses. The war horse was startled, rearing up and galloping away in a roar.

“Help him onto the horse, let’s go!”

Chu Qiao snorted coldly, speaking sternly to her subordinates. She spurred her horse forward, with the four men immediately following.

Just now, she had sensed that there weren’t just a few of them here. In the dense forest covered by snow and wind on both sides, there were many cautious footsteps. She immediately knew something was wrong. This seemingly isolated carriage had nearly a hundred skilled guards on the sides. If conflict broke out, they would be at a disadvantage. They could only pretend not to know first, then attack when the enemy wasn’t prepared.

Sure enough, before long, the rumbling sound of hoofbeats sounded behind them. Chu Qiao whipped her horse and shouted sternly: “Quickly!”

The five of them led the way, moving swiftly.

At this moment, a shower of whistling arrows suddenly came, aimed at the horses, not the people. The four imperial guards immediately fell from their horses.

“You still won’t stop?”

A seductive voice suddenly sounded in her ear. A pure white steed galloped alongside her. The red-clothed man on the horse had ink-black hair flying in the wind, eyes as seductive as silk, looking almost like a woman. His face was bewitchingly handsome. With one hand on the reins and the other holding a sword, he rode alongside Chu Qiao, laughing brightly.

With a “bang,” Chu Qiao immediately kicked the man’s horse in the belly. The white horse whinnied in pain but still didn’t retreat. The man was stunned, then smiled: “What a fierce woman. Very well, since you don’t like it, let’s not let it disturb you and me.”

As he spoke, the man’s figure suddenly leaped, rising from the saddle and landing steadily on Chu Qiao’s horseback. From behind, he wrapped his arms around the young woman’s waist, his warm breath blowing on the back of her ear, his voice ambiguous as he said: “Fragrant as orchids, skin like snow. I didn’t know that Red River also had such beautiful women. I’ve truly been uninformed.”

Chu Qiao snorted coldly, elbowing him. The man laughed heartily, holding her tightly in his arms, extending his tongue to lightly lick the back of Chu Qiao’s ear, laughing: “Smooth as congealed fat, fragrant as snow lotus, truly a beauty from the snow plains.”

Chu Qiao’s whole body went cold, goosebumps immediately rising, almost making her vomit. She became furious. Seeing shadowy figures on both sides, it was clear she was surrounded. Anger rose in her. She punched, elbowed, palm-pushed, then side-legged, arm-sprung, and pressed down, her elbow smashing into the man’s abdomen. Then her body turned sideways, sliding under the horse’s back, only gripping the horse’s belly with her legs, grabbing the man’s leg, and pulling hard.

The man never imagined her movements would be so agile. Caught off guard, with a “bang,” he fell miserably into the snow. Head first, he plunged into the snow plain, with not a trace of elegance or dignity left.

The woman jumped down afterward, her knee landing heavily on the man’s back, making him see the stars. A slap rang out, a crisp slap landing on the man’s face.

Taking advantage of her victory, attacking and defending simultaneously, Chu Qiao pressed the man’s head like a fierce tiger, and with lightning speed, she deployed a set of Wing Chun boxing techniques she had kept secret. Punches rained down: the “Beauty Rowing a Boat,” the “Bridge-Breaking Method,” the “Tiger’s Tail Palm,” the “Hook and Expose Hand”—all unleashed continuously, all landing on the man’s face and head!

Great gasps continuously sounded from all around. The young woman’s fists moved with vigor, swift as lightning, falling like raindrops, so fast that it made people’s eyes blur. Everyone watched dumbfounded as the young woman sat astride the man, her fists experienced, her movements agile. For a moment, they were frozen like wooden chickens, not knowing how to react.

“Ah! A bunch of fools, save the Crown Prince!”

A woman’s shrill voice immediately sounded. Chu Qiao’s heart sank: Crown Prince?

The thunderous sound of hoofbeats followed. Snow mist rolled, war horses roared, and the black troops of the Xiao Qi Camp, led by Zhao Che, arrived like thunder. However, seeing the scene before them, everyone was shocked, their faces turning waxy yellow.

Zhao Che, with his ink-black eyebrows, high on his horse, shouted sternly: “Chu Qiao, what are you doing?”

Chu Qiao immediately stopped. The man she was sitting on also raised his dizzy head, looking up with a face swollen with bruises, gazing bewilderedly at everyone. His eyes were black and swollen, and it was unclear if he could see the scene before him.

Zhao Che dismounted with a clang, strode forward, and bowed to the man on the ground: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have failed to discipline my subordinates properly. Please forgive me.”

With that, he grabbed Chu Qiao’s arm, pulling her off the Tang Crown Prince’s body and behind himself.

The young woman was already dumbfounded, watching the Bian Tang envoys running over, crying and wailing, feeling utterly at a loss.

This was the spoiled, unreasonable, and lecherous Crown Prince Li Ce, the only heir of the Bian Tang royal family who got whatever he wanted.

She had truly gone mad.