With too many people at the venue, even though Tie Ci could hold her liquor like a thousand cups without getting drunk, by the end she was staggering on her feet. Dan Shuang and Chi Xue supported her on either side as Tie Ci waved her hand with a laugh, “Tonight… hic… we’ve had our fill of fun… everyone… please… make yourselves… comfortable…”

Before her words finished, suddenly there was a sharp “whoosh” sound. Everyone looked up to see a bright streak across the sky, and the next instant people’s alarmed cries erupted.

“Assassins!”

“Arrows!”

The “whoosh whoosh” sounds continued without end, like a violent rainstorm battering pear blossoms, all aimed directly at Tie Ci in the center of the square.

Though Tie Ci’s hundred guards were present, they were all stationed around the perimeter of the square. Tie Ci was completely surrounded by students. As ten thousand arrows were released at once, everyone cried out in chaos and alarm.

Though the target was aimed at Tie Ci, the arrows came like urgent rain, inevitably affecting other students. One drunken student had just raised his head when he saw an arrowhead spinning and enlarging before his eyes, causing him to scream in terror.

“Snap!” An umbrella suddenly opened above his head. The arrowhead struck the umbrella surface, and he could hear the teeth-grinding screech of metal scraping against metal, yet that thin umbrella surface didn’t break. It kept extending, continuously pulling people under the umbrella, sheltering them in its safe shadow. They looked up to see Rong Pu’s plain white, serene profile.

Someone was about to duck with their head covered when suddenly a person leaped in front of them, grabbed a plate, and forcefully batted away an arrow. The plate remained unbroken.

This person looked up to see the delicate and gentle Wei Xuan.

Feeling ashamed, this person scrambled to his feet and stood in front of Wei Xuan.

Several people were about to meet a wave of arrows and had collided into a group when suddenly someone strode forward with great steps, kicking a table into the air. The table tumbled through the air, shielding those people behind it.

Those people turned around to see Wei Wei, and suddenly remembered how they had once participated in mocking him, all blushing in unison.

A female student was frightened and knocked down by her companion, about to fall under the chaotic trampling feet when suddenly a hand pulled her and with a nimble flick, she was tossed to safety. She turned her head to see Hu Yin’s frowning face, “Told you, archery, not good, study. We, women, must properly, protect, ourselves.”

She suddenly felt her heart settle, pulling a panicked fleeing female companion while laughing, “Then why don’t you protect yourself first?”

Hu Yin said, “I, I must protect, all Western Rong women, so, I came here!”

A professor hurriedly grabbed a stool to block arrows but was forced to retreat continuously by those fierce arrows when suddenly someone laughed, “Teachers should rest!” A curved blade flew from their hand.

A horizontal streak of light came sweeping along the ground like a white dragon rolling, creating gusts of wind wherever it passed. When the arrow rain met this horizontal light, they all snapped and shattered into debris in midair.

That person smugly raised an eyebrow and touched their lapis lazuli dzi bead earring.

Several students fell in the chaos, seeing the retreating crowd about to trample them, desperately covering their heads. After waiting a long time without being trampled or struck by arrows.

Looking up, they saw the Crown Princess’s guards had somehow already arrived, forming a human wall with their towering backs blocking the way ahead.

If viewed from above, one could see small clusters of people, each fighting their own battle.

Initially boiling with chaos, they were quickly comforted and rescued, then calmed down.

Arrows fell like heavenly rain, slanting upward.

On the rooftop, Xia Houchun didn’t even lift his head when suddenly his chopsticks extended.

With a snap, a crossbow bolt was crushed by the chopsticks.

The disturbance happened in an instant but ended just as quickly.

Most people hadn’t even reacted yet.

At the very center of the arrow rain, Tie Ci hadn’t retreated. Dan Shuang had already deployed her portable folding shield, and she watched the arrow rain while her peripheral vision swept the square, seeing that everyone she had notified was performing very well, a smile appearing in her eyes.

Then she reached out, her fingers extending past the shield to fiercely intercept a crossbow bolt.

With the bolt in hand, without stopping, she flung it backhand.

Aimed directly at Xiao Chang’s back as he retreated to the edge of the square, about to disappear into the darkness!

Xiao Chang never expected the Crown Princess to be so black-hearted and ruthless. As soon as the assassination began, he hurriedly hid in the shadows, planning to come collect the spoils after the chaos while also clearing his own involvement. With the scene in complete disorder, no one would notice anyone else. When he vaguely heard something strange behind him and turned around, the cold gleam of the arrowhead seemed about to illuminate his terrified, dilated pupils.

Suddenly a black shadow silently pounced forward, blocking behind him at the last moment. With a soft “thud,” the arrow pierced that person’s back and emerged from the front, the arrowhead mere inches from his heart.

Xiao Chang broke out in cold sweat, grateful that Xiao Family members always brought death warriors when going out.

At this moment, sounds of shouting and killing came from outside the memorial arch as dozens of people surged in.

He couldn’t remain here any longer. After glaring fiercely at Tie Ci’s back, he gave one of his subordinates a meaningful look and hurriedly departed.

Over there, Tie Ci looked up to see dozens of people surging in and shouted urgently, “Everyone retreat into the lecture hall, shut the doors tightly, no one enters or exits!”

Her previously instructed friends, along with her guards, and Shen Mi leading that group of people immediately escorted everyone into the lecture hall from different directions.

Chaotic footsteps passed by her side. Someone asked hurriedly as they passed, “Your Highness! You should go in first!”

Tie Ci extended her hand. Dan Shuang handed her the assembled bow, and Chi Xue hung the dagger for her.

Tie Ci held the bow in one hand, standing in the center of the square before the lecture hall like an immovable white stone, with crowds flowing past her on both sides like water.

She said calmly, “The Son of Heaven guards the nation’s borders, the heir guards the mountains and rivers. I am the Crown Princess, and the scholars of the world are also under my protection.”

Little Round Face was pushed toward the lecture hall while running and shouting, “Your Highness! Your Highness! I understand now, everything my father said was bullshit! From now on, in life I am your person, in death I am your ghost!”

Tie Ci asked Rong Pu, who was running past, “Who is his father?”

“Minister of Rites Yang Yunteng.”

Oh, so it’s Old Yang’s son.

Speaking of which, Old Yang was a stalwart backbone of the Empress Dowager’s faction. Her current trial journey was partly pushed forward by Old Yang.

If Old Yang knew his son had been converted by her, would he cough up blood?

Rong Pu stood beside her, holding the umbrella in front of her.

Tie Ci was very satisfied that he didn’t try to persuade her to go inside and hide, smiling, “Thank you.”

Rong Pu showed a slight smile and was about to respond when Tie Ci chopped his neck with her hand.

Then she handed the softened Rong Pu to the guard behind him, saying, “Protect your young master well.”

The guard gratefully clasped his fists and ran off carrying Rong Pu.

Tie Ci looked at the Wei siblings again, “You should go in too.”

Before Wei Xuan could speak, Wei Wei had already shouted loudly, “We won’t leave!”

Wei Xuan sighed but smiled, “Your Highness, no more words are necessary. To leave at this time, would we siblings have any face left?”

Tie Ci had no time to say anything more as those assassins had already rushed close.

With a sliding sound, someone released a signal flare that rolled along the ground, darting to her feet and illuminating the area around her bright as snow.

Someone shouted loudly, “The Crown Princess is here!”

Dan Ye’s angry curses could be heard from afar.

Tie Ci took a breath and drew her blade.

No matter the calculations, tonight would surely bring a fierce battle.

The guards and friends behind her also drew their blades in unison.

Blade light carved countless smooth traces through the night as people wielded blades while stepping on those low tables to leap up, like countless rolling giant waves crashing hard against their opponents.

Almost instantly, in the center of the whirlpool created by the giant waves, blade light crisscrossed and blood splattered. Screams and the sounds of flesh and bone breaking rang out frequently, piercing through the entire vast square like swords.

The lecture hall was dead silent. Students piled on top of each other, peering out through the gaps in the carved lattice screens, watching with stirred hearts and held breath.

After a long while, someone murmured, “Assassins came, yet we hide here while letting the Crown Princess, a woman, protect us…”

Someone else said weakly, “…These assassins should be coming for the Crown Princess. We’re just suffering collateral damage…”

Immediately someone refuted, “That only shows the Crown Princess is in a difficult situation, suffering persecution! We daily clamor about emulating knights-errant, protecting everyone in the world, eliminating all injustices. Now when the moment comes, have we forgotten all those bold words?”

Another said, “We’ve studied archery for so long. Are we now afraid to even take up blades to defend our own academy?”

One voice sparked a hundred responses, and people began looking for handy weapons, wanting to go out and support the Crown Princess.

Suddenly someone stepped out from the crowd, bowing, “The Crown Princess has ordered that tonight’s situation is unclear, and there may be further changes later. Please everyone stay safely in the lecture hall and do not go outside. The Crown Princess said that you are all talents of the realm, future pillars of the court. She absolutely will not let any of the academy’s teachers and students come to harm tonight. Please trust her.”

Everyone quieted down. After a moment, Teacher Ying sighed, “The Crown Princess is benevolent, brave, generous and kind. We are all impressed.”

That person smiled without saying more.

Someone else said, “Why do you need to stay here protecting us? You should go out and support the Crown Princess.”

That person replied, “The Crown Princess ordered us ten brothers to guard the academy’s teachers and students here. We dare not disobey orders.”

Everyone felt another wave of shame, then heard loud sounds from outside. When they pressed against the windows to look, they saw even more people surging in. The previous batch had been tall and large, though plainly dressed, their faces bore the marks of wind and frost, unlike people from the interior. This later batch was much more numerous, dressed in black with covered faces, clearly not wanting to be seen.

This later batch numbered in the hundreds, and on the academy’s wall tops, shadowy figures appeared faintly, clearly the academy was surrounded.

Dan Shuang said, “Your Highness, we’ll escort you to break through and head toward where the Nine Guards are stationed!”

Tie Ci nodded, “I’m the target. Staying here would only cause others to be attacked. Let’s go.”

She leaped onto the stone lamp pillar in the square. Everyone looked up at her as she pointed to the lecture hall, indicating they should enter later, then swept away.

After that wave of combat, her white robes were stained with blood, mottled under the dim lamplight. As she flew away, her black hair swayed behind her, like a blood-stained, fire-tested flag that never falls on the battlefield.

That night, what Crown Princess left in the minds of all teachers and students of Yueli Academy was a boulder in flowing water, a lighthouse in wind and waves, and finally this moment—a blood-stained flag fluttering fiercely in the wind.

From then on, this flag would fly long in the hearts of young students, enduring through wind, frost, rain and snow, never bending, never falling.

…