Her heart felt both sour and tender. Just as she began to move forward, he seemed to know and shook his head, striding toward her. Soon he was before her, arms spread wide, embracing her fully.
His chest trembled slightly, lips curved upward. With a forceful motion of his hands, he lifted her from the ground and spun her around. In front of everyone, even someone so composed had this side to him. His gaze burned so intensely and deeply it nearly set her ablaze. Suzhen felt as if her body was on fire. She was both shy and embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.
Behind them came the faint sounds of Lian Qin and Xuanwu’s muffled laughter.
She felt even more ashamed and wished she could disappear. Lian Yu finally released her, reaching out to smooth her disheveled hair, saying softly, “This place isn’t suitable for lingering. Let’s go back and talk!”
She quickly nodded.
Before driving the horses, Chao Huang had already lifted Little Zhou and Ji Fufeng down from the carriage. Lian Jie quickly examined their condition and, knowing that though their injuries were severe, they still breathed, had Qinglong and Xuanwu each carry one. The group of over ten people arranged themselves with Lian Jie and others in front, Chao Huang and his wife in back, leaving space in the middle for them.
Being hurried along by Lian Yu’s embrace, the tall city walls ahead loomed closer and closer, everywhere marked with weathered traces. Though the bodies had been cleared away, those large patches of congealed dark blood stains could not be washed away even by heavy rains. She knew how fierce the battle here had been—the guards had told her.
It was Wei Chenghui who had deliberately leaked the whereabouts of Princess Jin. Family vengeance, national hatred, and Leng Xue’s wounds… Her hand secretly clenched into a fist. Even the taste of happiness couldn’t suppress the hatred that had built in her heart over many days!
“What’s wrong?” Her every movement couldn’t escape Lian Yu’s eyes. He encircled her cold hand in his broad palm. “Tell me.”
Suzhen opened her mouth but suddenly remembered something, her heart tightening. “On the way here, Wei Wuxia told me all your plans. Tonight’s battle outside the city—was it started to rescue me?”
Lian Yu gripped her hand tightly and smiled gently. “Yes, and no.”
“Don’t blame everything on yourself. Even if it was, this was my decision, my order. This calamity was caused by me and has nothing to do with you.” He explained softly, “The situation at the border is extremely treacherous and strange. The worst possible outcome for General Liu’s army is probably… complete annihilation. The Prince of Jin’s heir is even more troublesome than Quan Feitong. This person is supervising the army at the border.”
“Therefore, tonight’s battle was inevitable. While rescuing you, our army must also retreat. The attacking forces are the vanguard, responsible for covering the main army’s retreat. Otherwise, with Wei Chenghui’s temperament, once we retreat, he’ll definitely attack, and the main army could never withdraw intact. But this battle will be hard on the soldiers used as decoys.” Though his tone carried resolute ruthlessness, it couldn’t hide a trace of hoarseness.
Suzhen looked at his still faintly smiling lips, her heart aching. People said that when Lian Yu was still crown prince, his methods of governing and managing officials locally were harsh and uncompromising. But she knew that making this decision, sending these people to their deaths, pained him more than anyone.
“I pray that Great Zhou will never have war again. If it were possible, how I wish I had the ability to fight alongside you, to kill enemies on the battlefield, to bring peace to this world, with no more bloodshed, no more partings.” She quietly gripped his hand tighter, a sense of vicissitudes rising in her heart, along with a strange passionate fighting spirit gathering quietly.
“Rest assured, though we’re temporarily withdrawing, I have ways to reclaim the lost territory. As long as you’re by my side, it’s equivalent to giving me thousands of troops and ten thousand horses.” He looked deeply at her. “Do you believe in me?”
“I believe.” She didn’t hesitate in the slightest.
Lian Yu looked at her, his expression unconsciously becoming gentle, then showing a trace of complexity. “There’s one matter—the Prince of Jin’s heir…”
“Lian Yu, I have something to tell you.” Suzhen happened to speak at this moment too. Lian Yu was caught by the sudden radiance in her eyes, feeling that no matter how many hardships lay ahead, they were not important. He touched her face. “You speak.”
“Do you like that we… we have a child…”
Suzhen couldn’t help the shyness in her heart, gently biting her lip, but was suddenly embraced tightly, pressed into his arms. He then turned with her, his gaze sharp as he looked at a distant place.
Under the pale moonlight, with the sound of horses whinnying, a group of cavalry rode up the path, the people in front leaping down, staring at them with wolfish eyes.
Whiter than the moonlight was the cold gleam of weapons in their hands.
Suzhen’s heart jumped in alarm. She recognized these people’s clothing—they were Wei residence guards. Looking back, they had traveled without rest all the way and were now less than ten zhang from the city gate!
“Li Huaisu is here! Wei Wuxia betrayed the Grand Preceptor—capture them all!” the leader commanded sternly.
Lian Yu held Suzhen tightly in his arms, his brow furrowing as he suddenly looked at Wei Wuxia. “Madam Chao, did you perhaps carelessly leave some trace?”
Cold sweat broke out on Wei Wuxia’s forehead. “I… I didn’t. I was careful as Chao Huang instructed, except… except I left a letter for my mother, but my mother would never harm me…”
“You!” Chao Huang’s expression changed, and he couldn’t help but roar in a low voice, “Didn’t I tell you absolutely not to leave behind a single word!”
Though he and Lian Yu were enemies, this time he was working with Lian Yu temporarily at Quan Feitong’s request, still harboring deep hostility toward Lian Yu. At this moment, his face also turned red. “This time it’s my wife and I…”
But Lian Yu interrupted him. “Forget it. There’s no point in assigning blame now. General Chao, protect Madam Wei.”
“Sixth Brother (Master), you and Huaisu go first!”
Lian Jie and Xuanwu shouted, the group already raising their swords to block in front of Lian Yu and Suzhen!
They had entered through the secret passage Lian Yu had built when he left for Suzhen that day. The group included Lian Jie, Lian Qin, Xuanwu, Qinglong, Baihu, Ming Yanchu, and the masked gray-clothed man. Since they were ultimately deep in the tiger’s den, though Wuyan and Lian Xin wanted to come, they weren’t allowed.
But even though they were all masters, besides Ming Yanchu who knew no martial arts, there were also Little Zhou and Ji Fufeng, two wounded soldiers. Suzhen couldn’t help but frown—the situation didn’t look optimistic.
“Husband!” Wei Wuxia was frightened pale. Chao Huang pushed her behind him and sneered coldly, “Madam, don’t be alarmed. Just with these petty soldiers trying to take you away—they’re really not taking me, Chao Huang, seriously. It just so happens I still have quite an account to settle with that old thief Wei. The timing is perfect.”
Lian Yu didn’t hesitate either. With a glance at his brothers and guards, he took Suzhen toward the city gate!
But at this moment, the enemy’s numerical advantage became apparent.
Over ten figures leaped through the air, instantly landing at the city gate entrance, blocking all escape routes.
Sixty or seventy people surrounded them front and back completely.
Lian Yu chuckled. “Looks like we can’t leave without killing them all.”
“Everyone listen to orders—fight for time, kill them all, put the wounded in the middle. Madam Wei, you come over too, together with Huaisu and Ming Yanchu.”
Chao Huang was a general with extensive battlefield experience and immediately understood, gently pushing Wei Wuxia over with one palm. Xuanwu and Qinglong also immediately placed the unconscious Little Zhou and Leng Xue on the ground. Soon, with Suzhen and the others and two wounded as the center, everyone faced inward forming a circle, protecting them in the middle. Lian Yu also drew his sword and joined the battle.
Though the Wei army guards were numerous, the eight people facing them in battle were all first-rate experts, especially the gray-clothed man, Chao Huang, and Xuanwu.
The gray-clothed man with bare hands, Chao Huang with a heavy sword—the first two alone killed twenty or thirty people with their individual strength! When Xuanwu viciously pulled his sword from a guard’s abdomen, after about the time of one incense stick, this battle was declared over.
Everyone was covered in blood.
“I’m afraid there are still pursuing troops. Let’s retreat quickly!” Lian Jie gasped hoarsely, but soon he stopped speaking, following Lian Yu’s slightly narrowed gaze.
Another troop of soldiers arrived!
Though still dozens of zhang away, the concentrated moonlight illuminated them clearly. Looking from afar, the leader appeared to be Wei Chenghui’s second son, Wei Wujun. Beside Wei Wujun was a very pretty girl. Wei Wuxia was startled and blurted out, “It’s that little wretch Wulei!”
Beside her, Ming Yanchu’s expression changed drastically, pointing to someone on Wei Wujun’s other side. “Master, it’s that old Taoist and his disciples. They’re the ones who breached the imperial city—all formidable opponents.”
“They must be martial arts practitioners. Their temples are slightly raised, their hand bones refined—all experts in external martial arts.” Chao Huang’s expression was also grave as he spoke in a deep voice.
He was referring to the thirteen or fourteen people in the front row. Additionally, some Wei army cavalry followed behind, another thirty or forty riders.
“Mm, these newcomers are martial arts masters and Wei residence guards. Horses are limited, so the cavalry arrived first. If we can’t escape before the infantry arrives, then we’ll never leave tonight. The infantry numbers a full thousand.” Lian Yu looked ahead and spoke calmly.
Everyone gripped their sword hilts, sweat quietly dripping, knowing that tonight’s life and death hung by a thread.
“Lian Yu, let them protect you and leave first. My martial arts aren’t good—taking me along is a burden. You needn’t worry about me.” Suzhen quietly grasped the back of Lian Yu’s robe, speaking softly.
Lian Yu looked back at her. “If I abandon you now, you’ll certainly die. Do you think I could be so heartless toward you? Besides, they won’t let me go. You were merely bait from the beginning—their real target is me.”
Over there, as Wei Wujun approached, he could also see the scene ahead clearly. Delighted, he smiled at Wuliang. “Master, Lian Yu is here. Heaven truly helps us.”
Wuliang’s eyes narrowed slightly. His martial arts were seasoned, and though pleased in his heart, he could remain composed. Beside him, Mao and Yu were extremely excited, their eyes flashing with wolfish gleam.
“Second sister, you’ve made a great contribution this time. This is the best gift for young master and father.” Wei Wujun turned to Wei Wulei.
Wei Wulei was also greatly delighted. Though raised in the inner quarters, she had seen the emperor at Wuyan’s wedding banquet years ago and knew that the noble and handsome man ahead was the current emperor!
“Wei Wulei, you dead little whore, may you die horribly!” Wei Wuxia shouted loudly from across, her eyes red with excitement.
Wei Wulei sneered coldly. Just as she was about to speak, Wei Wujun already spoke coldly, “Sister, you’re the one facing death. How dare you betray father!”
As he spoke, he saw Lian Yu give a low command, seeming to order everyone to attack together. He frowned, knowing they were making a desperate fight, and couldn’t help shouting, “Careful—prepare for battle!”
In a flash, the enemies ahead all turned around, rushing toward the city gate with all their strength.
Fooled by this feint, he became furious. “Chase them! Lian Yu is here—kill without mercy, no need to capture alive.”
“Second Young Master, wait,” Wuliang beside him thought of something. “We originally went to support the city tower and have bows and arrows on our horses.”
“Excellent!” Wei Wujun laughed heartily and immediately ordered, “All soldiers listen—shoot arrows!”
“Yes!”
The thirty or forty people behind him responded simultaneously, quickly drawing bowstrings and arrow quivers from their horses’ bellies.
Here, everyone was not far from the city gate, which was also open. But at this moment, urgent wind struck from behind. The gray-clothed man shouted, “The thieves are shooting arrows—everyone be careful!”
Everyone had to turn back and deflect the flying arrows with their swords. Chao Huang suddenly shouted, “Can’t take these burdens, or we’ll all die! If you won’t be the villain, I will!”
He struck twice with “swoosh, swoosh,” actually knocking Little Zhou and Ji Fufeng from Xuanwu and Qinglong’s arms into the corners within the city gate archway.
No one blamed him. Suzhen closed her eyes. At this moment, she didn’t blame Chao Huang either. In the current situation, they had no ability to continue protecting Little Zhou and the other. If both were burdened, all would inevitably die. If the enemies only focused on chasing them without stopping to finish off the two with swords, and the two could wake up in time in the dark corners of the city gate, there would still be a thread of hope!
In the rain of arrows filling the sky, Wuliang’s eagle-like eyes flashed with vicious light. He had been observing, and now suddenly seized a bow and arrows from a disciple beside him—
Seeing several arrows with heart-stopping force flying toward Suzhen’s vital points, Lian Yu’s expression changed. He deflected them continuously with his sword. For the last two arrows, unable to avoid them, he unhesitatingly turned sideways to block in front of her. With two “thud, thud” sounds, two arrows—one hit his chest, one hit his abdomen.
Suzhen’s heart filled with anguish as she cried out in alarm.
At this moment, the situation was out of control. Even a master like the gray-clothed man, blocking at the very front for Lian Yu, had already been hit by three or four arrows. But his martial arts seemed even higher than Chao Huang’s, and he could barely hold on! Yet he had looked after Lian Yu but forgotten that Lian Yu would sacrifice his life for Suzhen! Seeing this, his eyes couldn’t help showing a pain like that of a trapped beast.
Most of the others had also been hit by arrows. Even Wei Wuxia, protected by Chao Huang, was wounded in the shoulder.
But Lian Yu’s wounds were more severe than anyone’s. Seeing this, everyone’s eyes turned red, not knowing where they found the strength to surround him and Suzhen even more tightly, blocking the next wave of arrows.
At this time, still tightly holding Suzhen, Lian Yu was sweating profusely but still calmly ordered, “Move quickly. Based on the horses’ load capacity, they’re almost out of arrows. After entering the city gate, don’t defend—just run for your lives…”
Hearing him speak, everyone’s spirits immediately lifted. They quickly retreated, finally entering the shadows of the city gate. Taking advantage of this slight darkness, they no longer cared about rear defense and ran forward with all their might.
Entering the city gate, they were in the inner palace territory. Passing through a gate ahead, broad white marble steps immediately came into view. Ahead was a great hall with several side halls on both left and right. There were passages on both sides of the great hall leading to the next palace building.
Lian Yu had been ill and not fully recovered. Now with arrows in vital spots, he had already lost consciousness. Upon entering the palace gate, Lian Qin said urgently, “Sixth Brother can’t give orders. How should we go? Straight to the secret passage, or hide first?”
“The palace roads are winding—it’s inconvenient for them to ride horses. Taking advantage of the gap while they dismount and the distance they still have from us, everyone must make a decision quickly!”
Lian Jie raised his sword and pointed. “Of course we go inside. The secret passage is in the rear palace. This is only the front hall—there’s still a long way to go. Naturally we must rush to our destination without delay. But we should split into two groups—these front hall sides also happen to have two doors for our use.”
He began removing Lian Yu’s outer robe and smiled tragically. “I hope our side can draw away the pursuers.”
“Good,” Lian Qin smiled. “Seventh brother, I’ll go with you. Qinglong and Baihu will also follow us. Gray and Xuanwu have the highest martial arts—they’ll be responsible for protecting Sixth Brother and Huaisu through the other door.”
“No, this route won’t work.”
Just as everyone was about to separate, Suzhen suddenly spoke.
Everyone was startled, but under the moonlight, they saw her covering her lower abdomen with one hand, her face extremely pale, but her expression unusually resolute.
“How so?” Everyone knew she was intelligent and immediately listened.
“They have more people. Though searching the palace on horseback is somewhat inconvenient, they can still have some ride ahead. They only need to divide into three groups—cavalry split left and right along the outer palace walls, not entering our front hall but circling to guard the middle hall entrance. They’re on horseback, we’re on foot. No matter which team we split into, both will be intercepted by them at the middle hall gates. At the same time, they’re not afraid of us hiding here without going to the middle hall. Their third group will go straight to this front hall and slowly search inside.”
“So now we must also split into three groups. Abandon the seemingly viable but peril-filled path ahead. Hope we can… find life in the face of death!”
“Find life in the face of death?” Everyone didn’t understand and looked at her nervously.
Suzhen nodded. “I know that every person here has only one goal—to protect the emperor! He cannot die, because Great Zhou’s army and people cannot be without him. Since this is so, I want to ask everyone—have you all prepared to spare nothing, even… to die?”
Except for Chao Huang and Wei Wuxia who remained silent, only looking at her with complex expressions, everyone else nodded quickly without hesitation.
Suzhen smiled. “I’m the same.”
Everyone was shocked, but she waved her hand to stop them. “No time to lose—listen to my arrangements. We’ll split into three halls. Left hall: me, Eunuch Ming, and Baihu. We’re the weakest—we can’t drag others down. We must die. Right hall: Uncle Gray and Xuanwu. They have the highest martial arts and are responsible for protecting Lian Yu. Front hall, the middle great hall: Seventh Master, Ninth Master, and Qinglong. Also must die.”
“Seventh Master, you can’t take Lian Yu’s clothes—give them to Eunuch Ming. After the enemies enter, they’ll definitely search the halls immediately. Before they search, I’ll come out and pretend to negotiate with Wei Wujun, trading surrender for mine and Lian Yu’s lives. Eunuch Ming will pretend to be Lian Yu in the hall. You’ve served him for years—you can surely imitate his voice seventy or eighty percent.”
“Minister Li, set your mind at ease. Though this servant is a eunuch with a thin voice, I’m most familiar with His Majesty and can definitely manage this.” Ming Yanchu couldn’t fight, and though protected by everyone, he’d still been hit by two arrows—one in the shoulder, one in the foot. He’d been dragging his leg and running, the whole leg soaked in blood, his face completely pale, but now he smiled cheerfully.
Suzhen nodded. “They’ll most likely not allow my surrender. Then someone will enter the hall to attack the ‘Lian Yu’ inside. Baihu, you must desperately delay inside.”
Baihu glanced at the man supported by Xuanwu and the gray-clothed man, nodding through tears. “I’ll fight to the very last moment.”
“At this time, Ninth Master and Qinglong in the front hall will pretend to seize the opportunity to help Seventh Master escape, running toward one of the doors Seventh Master mentioned. When the enemies realize this, they’ll definitely think that’s the real Lian Yu and will send most people here to chase. You few are responsible for leading the pursuers away. Lead them as far as you can. Thus, few will remain here to capture and kill us three weak ones. Then, Xuanwu and Uncle Gray from the right hall can come out—one joins me in taking on all remaining enemies, fighting to the death, while one takes Lian Yu and escapes back the way we came, hiding in citizens’ homes within the capital. Believe me, once Lian Yu wakes up, he’ll definitely find a way to escape danger.”
As Suzhen spoke, everyone kept nodding. When she finished, each person smiled knowingly, not a trace of fear in their expressions.
The terrifying sound of hoofbeats also came tramping closer and closer—
Chao Huang, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke, “Min… Minister Li, what about my wife and me?”
Suzhen looked at them. “You naturally have no need to die with us. Just wait here. On the way, I heard Miss Wei say that Wei Chenghui still relies on her maternal family’s wealth. General Chao now has no troops or generals and poses no threat to Wei Chenghui. If Miss Wei explains the stakes, Wei Wujun won’t dare take your lives for nothing right now. Li Huaisu only asks one thing of you—when Wei Wujun speaks with me, Miss Wei should glance toward the front hall with feigned unease. Take care, both of you.”
After speaking, she quickly bowed to them, and when she finished, everyone immediately scattered. They couldn’t even say farewell to each other, nor did they seem to need any other words.
Wei Wuxia watched silently, guilt in her heart, feeling her eyes slightly moisten. She wanted to say something to Chao Huang, but he didn’t respond. He and they had never been friends and had fought to the death before, wishing they could cut each other to pieces. At this moment, he too felt sorrowful at everything before his eyes.
In the moment before Wei Wujun and Wuliang charged in with murderous intent, they saw Suzhen slowly emerge from the left hall, casting a deep look toward the right hall. Then, under the starlight, she stood with hands behind her back, calmly watching ahead. Just like years ago when she, as a woman, entered the palace examination, her eyes would show fear and fright, but always carried an unstoppable spirit, never retreating a single step.
Yesterday’s and today’s updates together.