Lu Ping glanced toward his own eldest young lady, and seeing Bai Qingyan nod, he led the guards to retreat ten steps to the side.
Xiao Rongyan moved closer to Bai Qingyan, his profound eyes gazing at Bai Qingyan’s clean and delicate features, lowering his voice: “I know you want to draw away all the Nandu troops from the Bai Mansion, so your situation will be more difficult than the Bai Mansion’s. With more hands to protect you, you’ll have one more measure of safety. Whether it’s me, your second aunt, or Seventh Sister, we’ll all be more at ease. If you don’t take enough people and get injured… how could your second aunt and Seventh Sister feel at peace?”
Not giving Bai Qingyan a chance to speak, Xiao Rongyan continued: “If you trust me, take the shadow guards with you. I will protect your second aunt and Seventh Sister’s safety. If they suffer even the slightest harm, I’ll pay with my life!”
Bai Qingyan understood in her heart that by drawing away Prince Xin’s people, the Bai Mansion’s crisis would be somewhat lessened. Leaving people at the Bai Mansion was merely a precaution.
Now that Xiao Rongyan had spoken thus, Bai Qingyan couldn’t refuse anymore: “Have the shadow guards follow me secretly. You and Yue Shi stay at the Bai Mansion. If there’s any situation, have Yue Shi or Uncle Ping quickly come and inform me!”
“Rest assured!” Xiao Rongyan very much wanted to embrace Bai Qingyan, but with so many people watching them now, under the gaze of众目睽睽, Xiao Rongyan couldn’t make any improper moves that would damage Bai Qingyan’s reputation. He could only step back and bow deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Miss Bai, please be extremely careful. I… will guard the Bai Mansion well for Miss Bai!”
Xiao Rongyan had never been so concerned about anyone’s safety before, nor had he ever imagined that the woman he admired would charge into battle on the battlefield while he worried anxiously in the rear.
Bai Qingyan also bowed formally to Xiao Rongyan: “Then, I, Bai Qingyan of the Bai Mansion… entrust everything to Master Xiao!”
Xiao Rongyan nodded.
“Uncle Ping…” Bai Qingyan looked toward Lu Ping.
Lu Ping immediately responded and quickly stepped forward: “Eldest Miss, your orders!”
“From today, everyone in the Bai Mansion shall follow Master Xiao’s commands. What Master Xiao orders is what I order – there shall be no disobedience!” Bai Qingyan declared.
Lu Ping was somewhat surprised and glanced at Xiao Rongyan, not expecting Bai Qingyan to entrust the Bai Mansion’s safety to Xiao Rongyan. But Xiao Rongyan was a benefactor to the Bai Mansion, and Lu Ping observed that Xiao Rongyan conducted affairs with great method and order. Moreover, having traveled among various nations, Xiao Rongyan had surely encountered many dangers. The fact that he could stand here safely now suggested he had real capability.
“Lu Ping receives the order!” Lu Ping cupped his hands toward Xiao Rongyan. “Master Xiao, today the Bai Mansion is entrusted to Master Xiao.”
Xiao Rongyan returned the courtesy to Lu Ping.
Soon, another person came to report that a general from Nandu was leading troops and would soon reach the alley where Duke Zhenguo’s mansion was located.
Above the capital city today, the sky was overcast and gloomy, with rolling dark clouds that felt extremely oppressive to behold.
Bai Qingyan turned back to look at the ten Bai family guard soldiers holding torches high, standing on the high steps, cupping her fists: “Today I trouble you all to face life and death alongside Bai Qingyan.”
“We swear to follow Eldest Miss to the death!”
“We swear to follow Eldest Miss to the death!”
Bai Qingyan nodded, gripping the sword at her waist, speaking calmly: “Open the gates!”
The guards protecting Princess Zhenguo’s mansion opened the vermilion lacquered gates with golden rings. The Bai family guard soldiers carrying torches were the first to leave the mansion, leaping onto their horses in one bound. Only then did Bai Qingyan unhurriedly step out of the mansion gates.
Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Rongyan clenched his palms, watching Bai Qingyan’s cloak flutter in the wind, his heart suspended in his throat.
The sound of horse hooves and soldiers’ armor and footsteps created a thunder-like rumble that seemed particularly orderly and intimidating in the empty long street.
Yue Shi, hearing the commotion, glanced toward the wall, then looked at Bai Qingyan’s determined stride, filled with worry.
Xiao Rongyan clenched his fists, watching Bai Qingyan’s upright but slightly thin figure, gritting his teeth: “Close the gates!”
The two gates of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion slowly closed. Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Lu Ping, his voice steady yet urgent as he quickly ordered: “I trouble Guard Lu… have the mansion’s servants bring all the stored wine in Princess Zhenguo’s mansion here as a precaution. Among the guard soldiers, those skilled with bow and arrow should immediately deploy half here! Those skilled in close combat should guard outside the courtyard where the Second Madam and the Seventh Miss are staying. Strong and healthy servant women should guard within the courtyard, close the courtyard gates, and archers should position themselves on the walls! Don’t worry about propriety between men and women at this time. Leave a few guards with exceptional skills inside the rooms to guard the doors well!”
Hearing Xiao Rongyan’s methodical and orderly arrangements, layer upon layer, well-organized, Lu Ping’s brow twitched slightly, and doubts suddenly arose in his heart.
Young General Wang rode his horse at the front. From afar, he saw guards outside Princess Zhenguo’s mansion holding torches high while mounted on tall horses. That silver-armored woman in military dress and armor, with the Sun-Shooting Bow slung across her back – her silver armor gleamed with bone-chilling cold light under the wildly dancing firelight in the wind.
Young General Wang thought this was bad and drew his sword from his waist, deliberately shouting: “Prince Xin commands: whoever kills Princess Zhenguo shall be rewarded with a hundred gold pieces and a noble title! We absolutely cannot let Princess Zhenguo escape! Kill!”
At these words, the Nandu soldiers immediately became as if injected with adrenaline, their battle cries shaking the heavens.
“Kill Princess Zhenguo! Kill!”
“Kill!”
Hearing the approaching heavy troops and the calls to kill her, Bai Qingyan remained completely calm. She took down the Sun-Shooting Bow, grasped the reins with one hand while leaping onto her horse and simultaneously drawing an arrow, nocking it to the bowstring. She turned back… her gaze indifferent and calm as she looked toward the leading Young General Wang. Before the person could approach, the killing intent had already arrived. Her gaze was like the bitter cold of early spring, like a frozen azure deep pool.
She calmly released the arrow.
Before Young General Wang could react, the arrowhead passed through the torches held high by the Bai family soldiers, carrying sparks as it flew straight through his armor, penetrating Young General Wang’s collarbone.
Young General Wang cried out in pain, forcefully pulling the reins tight. His angry horse neighed and reared up on its hind legs, nearly throwing Young General Wang off. He gripped the reins with both hands, and by the time he had steadied his mount and looked up again, Bai Qingyan and her party had already galloped away.
Young General Wang, ignoring the arrow wound in his collarbone that caused half his body to go numb with pain, only knew he absolutely could not let Princess Zhenguo leave the city. He shouted: “Chase! We absolutely cannot let Princess Zhenguo leave the city! Half of you follow me in pursuit, half go intercept and kill her at the East Gate!”
With these words, Young General Wang charged out first.
The Nandu army had always been well-trained. They immediately split into two groups – one following Young General Wang to chase Bai Qingyan, the other heading straight for the capital’s East Gate, hoping to intercept and kill Bai Qingyan there.
Among the troops Young General Wang led, only the officers rode horses while most were infantry. How could they possibly catch up to the mounted Bai Qingyan and Bai family guard soldiers?
Hearing this, Bai Qingyan turned her head to order a Bai family guard beside her: “Go around the alley ahead and quietly watch the East Gate. Report immediately if there’s any situation!”
“Yes!” The guard responded, and after turning a corner, he abandoned his horse and leaped over a wall into someone else’s courtyard.
Standing in the courtyard of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, Xiao Rongyan watched as the wildly dancing torchlight and footsteps beyond the wall urgently chased after Bai Qingyan, disappearing into the alley in front of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion.