In the night, majestic mountain peaks sketched out their towering silhouettes. A figure galloping on horseback approached like an arrow shot from a powerful crossbow, seemingly reaching Shen Xihe’s side in the blink of an eye.

Shen Xihe threw the flint and rolled down the other side, but unexpectedly, there were many loose rocks below. Her wrist was cut in several places, stinging with pain. Though she wasn’t delicate in spirit, her body was. After confirming there was no immediate danger and noticing a clean-looking puddle nearby, Shen Xihe pulled out the handkerchief tucked at her waist, dampened it, and cleaned her wounds.

The sound of hoofbeats made her stand up startled. Before she could turn around, a warm, broad embrace enveloped her from behind. Two arms like iron bands held her tightly, yet they trembled slightly as if unable to bear the night’s chill.

The familiar medicinal fragrance made Shen Xihe release the mechanism clasped at her wrist, but she disliked physical contact with anyone who wasn’t family, regardless of gender. She struggled slightly in discomfort.

However, Xiao Huayong’s arms were like iron, his strength too great for her to budge even slightly. She could only warn in a low voice, “Let go.”

“Just a moment, just a moment…” he closed his eyes and pleaded softly.

Let him feel her warmth and breath, feel that she was still here, safe and sound.

Shen Xihe was startled by the lingering fear in his tone, though only for an instant. Just as she was about to speak again, Xiao Huayong had already released her. Full of concern, he carefully scanned her from head to toe, and upon seeing her hand wrapped in a handkerchief, he grasped both her hands: “You’re hurt? Is it serious? Does it hurt? Are you injured anywhere else?”

Shen Xihe pulled her hands back: “How did Your Highness come to be here?”

His hands were now empty, and a chill breeze swept across his palms. Xiao Huayong slowly closed his fingers that had grasped nothing: “I… I was worried about you.”

“Does Your Highness know who was behind this?” Shen Xihe asked urgently.

Shen Xihe thought that unless Xiao Huayong knew who was behind it, why would he be so worried that she couldn’t handle it and come personally?

No matter when or where she always prioritized the bigger picture and important matters. Xiao Huayong sighed inwardly: “Let’s not speak of this now. First, let’s find a safe place to examine your injuries.”

“I’m fine.” The most painful part for Shen Xihe wasn’t the scrapes or where the rocks had jabbed her when rolling down the slope, but where the gyrfalcon had struck her – her shoulder was likely bruised.

Xiao Huayong had brought people with him, especially those who had been clearing the path ahead of Shen Xihe, who now returned with reinforcements. There was little to worry about now, whether at Shen Xihe’s location or up on the mountain where Mo Yuan and Teng Jing were.

Difang, who had fallen behind Xiao Huayong, went first to the campsite to repair Shen Xihe’s carriage and bring it over.

Xiao Huayong gave him an approving look, and Difang puffed up his chest – he knew he was more pleasing to his master than his brother, more understanding of what the master wanted!

Xiao Huayong helped Shen Xihe into the carriage. Hong Yu had also followed down and was about to climb in when Xiao Huayong, with one foot already on the carriage, paused.

Hong Yu froze in place. On a moonless night, a lantern hung on the edge of the carriage illuminating Xiao Huayong’s displeased expression. For a moment, Hong Yu instinctively stepped back, feeling her presence was inappropriate.

But in an instant, she came to her senses – she wasn’t the Crown Prince’s maid, she was here to protect the Princess!

Ignoring the Crown Prince’s sour face, Hong Yu stepped forward quickly and gave Xiao Huayong a proper curtsey: “This servant greets Your Highness.”

Xiao Huayong withdrew his long leg, making way, and perfunctorily acknowledged her with a slight movement: “Go see if the Princess is injured anywhere else.”

Anywhere else? Upon hearing that Shen Xihe was injured, Hong Yu immediately jumped into the carriage, lifting the curtain to enter.

Seeing Hong Yu arrive, Shen Xihe asked: “Is there any news of Zhenzu and the others?”

“The people pursuing us have all retreated. Sister Zhenzu and the others must be fine.” Hong Yu was more concerned about Shen Xihe. She took Shen Xihe’s wrapped hand and pulled out the medicine box prepared by Xie Yunhuai, using fragrant medicine to treat her again before saying, “Princess, let this servant check where else you’re hurt.”

“No hurry, wait for Zhenzu to come.” Shen Xihe’s injury was on her shoulder, which would require removing clothes. Though the carriage had raised its iron panels and was warm, the thought of a man standing outside made Shen Xihe uncomfortable.

Hong Yu understood immediately that Shen Xihe was indeed injured elsewhere and asked in a low voice: “Princess, where are you hurt?”

Shen Xihe’s gaze fell on her shoulder. Hong Yu thought of the earlier collision with the gyrfalcon but didn’t say more. The Crown Prince was outside, and the gyrfalcon had struck to save the Princess – without that collision, the Princess might have been shot through the heart. Better not to mention it and risk the Crown Prince misunderstanding.

With Xiao Huayong’s arrival and his composed demeanor, he had the situation under control, so Shen Xihe wasn’t worried. Just as she was about to close her eyes to rest, she suddenly remembered her jade flowers: “Hong Yu, go back, the jade flowers!”

Hong Yu immediately understood and darted out of the carriage to tell Difang: “Please trouble you, young sir, to drive the carriage back.”

Standing outside, Xiao Huayong naturally heard Shen Xihe’s words. He jumped onto the carriage, sat outside, and ordered Difang: “Drive.”

When they returned, the remaining guards at the camp were still sleeping deeply. Shen Xihe rushed to the jade flowers and found that several had chosen this night to bloom, but had already withered. Fortunately, two remained yet to blossom, though she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

“We’ll grow some in the palace next year,” Xiao Huayong said softly. He looked at the sky showing signs of dawn. “The remaining ones likely won’t bloom tonight. Let’s go back to rest.”

Shen Xihe also knew the jade flowers wouldn’t bloom after daybreak, so she didn’t stubbornly remain. She returned to the village, and shortly after, Zhenzu and Mo Yu returned together, both with some bloodstains on them.

“Were there any casualties?” Shen Xihe asked.

Not just Zhenzu, Mo Yuan, and the others – all of them had come with her from the Northwest, and some of their parents were still there waiting eagerly for news.

“Princess, please don’t worry, no one died. They all suffered some superficial wounds. They wanted to coordinate inside and outside forces to catch us all at once, but fortunately, the Princess’s fragrance had knocked out most people in the stronghold,” Zhenzu reported.

As Shen Xihe had guessed, the bandits driven away during the day were indeed escapees, but after being discovered, they deliberately lured Shen Xihe over. However, to avoid exposing their movements, they hadn’t dared follow too closely when Zhenzu was active and hadn’t expected Shen Xihe to use the wind to drug them.

This had prevented a fierce battle. Those knocked out in the stronghold were all captured alive. Shen Xihe had added fine fragrances to the explosives, and the scattered incense had also knocked out many people who were taken captive.

“Sister Zhenzu, quickly check the Princess’s injuries!” Hong Yu had been concerned all along.

“Where is the Princess hurt?” Zhenzu also became anxious.

Shen Xihe glanced at Xiao Huayong. He rubbed his nose and conscientiously withdrew.