Bai Jinzhi’s furious shout came from outside.

Outside the post house, the surrounding common people were filled with righteous indignation, while the Bai family guards brought by Bai Jinzhi faced off tensely with Li Zhijie’s escort guards.

The people shouted for Li Zhijie to return the second son of the Bai family, Bai Qingqiong, to Jin, or they would petition the Emperor to dispatch troops to destroy Xiliang.

“Our Princess Zhenguo might have fallen into a trap! These Xiliang people are full of schemes – they probably used news of the second young master Bai to trick Princess Zhenguo here to kill her!”

“That’s right! Xiliang’s great victory this time was all because Princess Zhenguo made Yun Poxing afraid. If Princess Zhenguo dies, won’t Xiliang no longer need to fear Jin? Fourth Miss, quickly bring people inside to rescue the Princess!”

“How vicious these Xiliang people are!”

Bai Qingyan knew the Crown Prince had arrived…

She had arranged for Nanny Qin’s people at the post house entrance. As soon as they saw the Crown Prince arrive at the post house gates, they would say… that the Xiliang people had deceived Princess Zhenguo with news of the second young master Bai, that the Princess might have fallen into an ambush inside the post house, that the Xiliang people wanted to kill Princess Zhenguo, and if they killed Princess Zhenguo, Xiliang would no longer fear Jin – such words.

Naturally, people were also arranged to cry out loudly, deeply believing the Crown Prince was a wise heir apparent who would surely find a way to rescue Princess Zhenguo.

The bigger the commotion Xiao Si and Nanny Qin’s people made, the better.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is brilliant and martial – he will surely rescue Princess Zhenguo!”

Li Zhijie also heard the disturbance outside.

“It seems the Crown Prince has arrived. I hope Prince Yan has already thought of how to explain this to the Crown Prince?”

Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Li Zhijie’s pupils tightened. Her natural sharp sense of danger made her detect the threat approaching from behind. She immediately turned and released an arrow…

Lu Tianzhuo, who had somehow silently appeared wielding a long sword, had nearly succeeded in his surprise attack, but was detected by Bai Qingyan and almost pierced by her feathered arrow.

“Lu Tianzhuo!” Li Zhijie shouted through clenched teeth.

Killing Bai Qingyan today was not part of Li Zhijie’s plan. If Bai Qingyan died here today… It would not only give Jin a legitimate excuse to attack Xiliang, but the Bai family army would likely march on Yun Jing to avenge Bai Qingyan.

Xiliang could not afford chaos now, much less such turmoil!

Li Zhijie feared Bai Qingyan’s military leadership abilities, but he feared Jin’s Bai family army even more.

Although the Bai family army only had ten thousand men remaining, just thinking about that Bai family son made clear how valiant both the Bai family army and the Bai family were.

If Yun Jing fell into chaos, all of Xiliang would be in turmoil. Then… if Jin invited allied nations to attack Xiliang, to destroy and partition Xiliang, Xiliang would cease to exist!

Li Zhijie watched as Lu Tianzhuo dodged Bai Qingyan’s sword, stepping on the white jade railing beside the fish pond, holding his gleaming, menacing, sharp sword… charging rapidly toward Bai Qingyan.

Li Zhijie’s eyes darkened. Ignoring his wound, he took three steps in two strides and shielded Bai Qingyan, opening his iron-ribbed fan… Twenty-three iron fan ribs shot toward Lu Tianzhuo’s direction.

Lu Tianzhuo rolled away in embarrassment, but was struck in the knee by one of Li Zhijie’s fan ribs, crying out in pain as he knelt on one knee using his sword to support his body.

“Lu Tianzhuo, this prince commands you to stop!” Li Zhijie’s expression was dark, half his body stained red with blood making his aura even more terrifying.

Bai Qingyan narrowed her eyes, unable to understand why Li Zhijie’s own man wanted to kill her, yet Li Zhijie was… protecting her?

Lu Tianzhuo clenched his teeth and raised his head…

He had entered the Xiliang Imperial Palace as a eunuch, enduring humiliation and living in disgrace for so many years, all for the sake of avenging his adoptive father. The person who had severed his adoptive father’s head was right here. His sword was poisoned – today he must kill Bai Qingyan to avenge his adoptive father. If he missed today, he would never have another chance.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry! Today, I must have Bai Qingyan’s life. Your Highness’s great kindness to Lu Tianzhuo can only be repaid in the next life!” After Lu Tianzhuo spoke, his hawk-like eyes fixed deadly on Bai Qingyan as he raised his sword and charged toward Bai Qingyan and Li Zhijie.

Bai Qingyan smoothly drew an arrow and pulled her bow, aiming at Lu Tianzhuo without fear.

Li Zhijie instinctively raised his hand to shield Bai Qingyan behind him, shouting: “Are you all dead?! Capture him for this prince!”

The commotion inside the post house was too great, finally alarming Li Tianfu.

When Li Tianfu arrived following the sound, she saw soldiers in Xiliang attire fighting with Lu Tianzhuo, while the bloodied Li Zhijie was shielding the enemy nation’s Bai Qingyan behind him.

“Stop! This princess commands you all to stop! What are you doing?!” Li Tianfu drew the sword from her guard’s side and joined the fierce battle.

Seeing it was Princess Li Tianfu, the Xiliang soldiers all stopped.

Li Tianfu shielded the knee-wounded Lu Tianzhuo behind her, glancing at Lu Tianzhuo’s bleeding knee wound, burning with anger: “Li Zhijie, have you gone mad?!”

Before Li Zhijie could answer, Lu Tianzhuo grasped Li Tianfu’s shoulder, his voice low and hoarse: “Your Highness, the Princess! I’m sorry!”

As his words fell, Lu Tianzhuo pushed Li Tianfu away and raised his sword. But before he could charge toward Bai Qingyan, the whistling sound of something cutting through the air passed by. Lu Tianzhuo’s throat moved; he opened his mouth but made no sound.

Li Zhijie was stunned, turning to look at the Sun-Shooting Bow in Bai Qingyan’s hands, now without its feathered arrow.

Li Tianfu, who had been pushed to the ground, widened her eyes and screamed.

Lu Tianzhuo looked down but couldn’t see his wound, yet blood flowed steadily, staining his clothes red.

He raised his hand to cover the hole where the feathered arrow had pierced his neck, blood rushing eagerly through his fingers… pouring into his throat. He opened his mouth wide but could only gasp for breath, his entire body falling stiffly backward.

“Lu Tianzhuo! Lu Tianzhuo!” Li Tianfu pushed away the maid helping her up, rushing over to catch Lu Tianzhuo, who was about to collapse, frantically pressing her hands against his neck in panic. “Lu Tianzhuo! Doctor! Doctor! Quickly call a doctor!”

Lu Tianzhuo’s reddened, tear-filled eyes gazed at Li Tianfu, who was so frightened she was crying in panic. He knew he would die here today, but… he couldn’t bear to leave Li Tianfu.

Everyone said Li Tianfu was willful, domineering, arrogant, and tyrannical, but Lu Tianzhuo knew she was just a little girl who wanted attention from her father emperor, and mother empress. Her heart was kind yet fragile.

Her competitiveness… her bluster was merely a disguise to hide her inner fragility and helplessness.

If Li Tianfu hadn’t saved him back then, he would probably have been beaten or tortured to death by those eunuchs in the Xiliang Imperial Palace.

His entire life had been lived for revenge. He thought his future held only avenging his adoptive father. Li Tianfu was an accident in his life, the only ray of light in the endless darkness of his heart.

He wasn’t afraid of death, but he feared his death would make Li Tianfu sad and grieved.

Lu Tianzhuo’s blood-stained hand gripped Li Tianfu’s hand tightly, his nostrils flaring slightly, tears falling like broken strings from his eyes. He smiled at Li Tianfu, no longer having the strength to speak.