The dungeon wasn’t in the camp.
The Princess Imperial rode with her guard for twenty to thirty li, arriving at a horse farm where slaves were held. This farm was guarded by her people, and only her guards could enter and leave.
She cautioned the guard: “Apart from you few, no one else knows about this, not even the Judge. When you see him later, whether he’s the Wei Crown Prince or not, you must keep silent. Don’t let this leak out, especially to those ladies.”
Her life had been full of hardship. She had once been a Turkic Khatun, later falling into the hands of the Northern Rong royal family and marrying the Judge. Although she had been much favored by the Judge these years, because of her Han origins, her status never matched that of the Judge’s other wives. The ladies were jealous of her, opposing her at every turn, always looking to catch her making a mistake.
The guard responded: “I understand.”
The horse farm was desolate, with snow deep enough to submerge boots. Several people dismounted and walked for over ten li, arriving at a row of half-underground dwellings built of earth and stone. They lit torches and went inside.
The dungeon was pitch black and cold as an ice cellar.
The soldiers guarding the prisoners opened the dungeon, the sound of dragging chains startling those inside. The man in the corner leaned against the earthen wall, raised his eyelids, and coldly swept his gaze over those outside the cell.
A Hu woman stepped forward to bow to the Princess Imperial. Seeing the Han-looking guard behind the Princess Imperial, she trembled almost imperceptibly.
The Princess Imperial gestured for the guard to step forward.
The guard walked to the cell and carefully examined the man in the corner.
The man wore tattered clothes, his exposed skin covered in wounds as if he had been severely tortured. Despite his disheveled and sorry state, his handsome, refined features couldn’t be concealed. Even lying down, one could see his tall, slender frame and straight back. Though imprisoned, he still maintained an extraordinary bearing and calm dignity, with an air of composed superiority in his gaze.
Through his messy long hair, a pair of phoenix eyes held an inner radiance.
The guard excitedly said: “Princess, I recognize him! The Li family’s young lords all have such phoenix eyes – he is the Wei Crown Prince!”
The Princess Imperial lifted her eyelids to look at the Hu woman.
The Hu woman knelt and said: “Princess Imperial, I also think he resembles the Wei Crown Prince, but no matter what I say to him these days, he won’t respond. I haven’t been able to get anything out of him.”
Previously, with only the Hu woman’s identification, the Princess Imperial couldn’t be certain if the man was Li Xuanzhen. Now that the guard also said he was Li Xuanzhen, she fell silent for a moment, narrowing her eyes.
“No wonder Yun’niang keeps thinking about you…”
This man had abandoned his position as Crown Prince and traveled thousands of li to find Zhu Lüyun – such true feelings were indeed rare.
Having experienced many hardships, the Princess Imperial knew how precious true feelings were.
Li Xuanzhen remained silent.
The Princess Imperial pondered for a moment, then turned and left the dungeon, instructing the guard: “The Wei Crown Prince came for Yun’niang’s sake. Don’t tell her – it would only cause trouble.”
The guard agreed and asked: “Princess, what should we do? Should we kill the Wei Crown Prince?”
The Princess Imperial shook her head: “Li Xuanzhen cannot be killed. He is the Wei Emperor’s most beloved son – if we kill him, Wei won’t let it rest. Besides, there’s still Yun’niang to consider. She is my brother’s only blood relation. Since Li Xuanzhen would risk death for her, for Yun’niang’s sake, I’ll spare his life for now.”
The guard thought for a moment and said: “Why don’t we use the Wei Crown Prince to threaten the Wei Emperor, demanding Liangzhou in exchange? Whatever we ask for, the Wei Emperor surely wouldn’t dare refuse.”
The Princess Imperial still shook her head: “That would let word get out. Once the Judge, Aling, or the Khan learns of this, the situation would become unmanageable. If Yun’niang gets involved, even I won’t be able to protect her. Right now, no one knows Li Xuanzhen is in my hands. I’m in a predicament – let’s just keep him imprisoned for now.”
She emphasized again: “Whatever you do, don’t let Yun’niang know Li Xuanzhen is imprisoned here.”
Mentioning Zhu Lüyun gave her a headache. This niece was too much like her brother – indecisive and inconsistent, one moment saying she wanted to forget Li Xuanzhen, the next crying over the jade bracelet he had given her. She was capable of any foolish act.
The guards all agreed in unison.
In the dungeon, after the Princess Imperial’s party left and the cell door slowly closed, the Hu woman and Li Xuanzhen in the cell exchanged a glance.
The soldier urged the Hu woman to leave, warning: “The Princess Imperial ordered that this matter cannot be leaked. Remember that, or we’ll send you to reward the soldiers!”
The Hu woman nodded in agreement, put down the food box, and rose to leave the cell. She crossed the stable and returned to her narrow dugout. Cautiously pushing aside the felt curtain to look around, confirming no one was nearby, she let out a long breath.
In the dim dugout came several suppressed coughs from a man.
The Hu woman quickly turned around, pushing aside the thick pile of straw in the corner, and said softly: “Young Master Li, Zhu Lüyun has returned from the royal court.”
The straw trembled, and a tall, strong man suddenly sat up from the darkness. With black hair and eyes, distinct facial features, a pale and melancholy complexion, deep phoenix eyes, and a gloomy gaze, he wore a fur-lined jacket with a turned-down collar, a belt at his waist holding a curved sword, a short dagger, and a whip – the typical dress of a herdsman.
The Hu woman’s heart pounded. Princess Wenzhao was said to be devastatingly beautiful, and her brother was equally handsome and distinguished. Unfortunately, the Second Prince had been severely wounded and hadn’t recovered even now.
Li Zhongqian struggled to sit up, his haggard face lighting up with joy, his eyes flashing with brightness. He coughed several times and tightly gripped the Hu woman’s hand.
“How is the royal court? Did she see Mingyue? What did she say to Li Xuanzhen? How is Mingyue doing?”
“Where is Mingyue?”
The Hu woman shook her head and said: “Young Master, the Princess Imperial kept it from Zhu Lüyun and didn’t let her meet the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince doesn’t know if Zhu Lüyun met Princess Wenzhao.”
Those few questions seemed to exhaust Li Zhongqian’s strength. His arms trembled violently, and with a thud, he fell back onto the hay. His face twitched several times, his gaze growing dim.
The Hu woman sighed and consoled him softly: “Young Master, don’t worry. The Buddha’s Son has already made it known to all countries that Princess Wenzhao is under his protection. The Princess must be safe and sound.”
Li Zhongqian’s consciousness was hazy. He wanted to sit up, wanted to walk step by step to the royal court to find his Mingyue.
To survive, she had been forced to submit to a monk! She had suffered so much and must be very afraid. He needed to save her, to bring her home.
But now the Northern Rong had blockades everywhere, and with his new wounds atop old ones, he had no choice but to disguise himself as a herdsman and hide in this dugout.
Li Zhongqian’s teeth chattered, his phoenix eyes staring straight at the ceiling, burning with anxious flames.
He dared not imagine what kind of life Mingyue was living now. Unless he found her immediately, he would be in constant torment.
His wounds ached dully and disturbed by these thoughts, he passed out again.
The Hu woman watched over him, changing his bandages and disposing of the bloodied gauze. She found an excuse to chat with the guards who had returned with Zhu Lüyun, trying to learn what had happened to her at the royal court.
In the evening, soldiers came to hurry her to bring food to Li Xuanzhen. She quickly agreed, taking up the food box and going to the dungeon.
Li Xuanzhen took the food box, his shackles clanking loudly.
“Did Princess Fukang bring back any news of Princess Wenzhao?”
He asked quietly in the Wei commandery dialect.
The Hu woman shook her head, answering in the same dialect: “Those guards are very tight-lipped, unwilling to say what happened to Zhu Lüyun at the royal court… however…”
Li Xuanzhen’s hands trembled: “However what?”
The Hu woman said softly: “I heard them discussing, saying Princess Wenzhao was shameless, seducing a monk. They seemed to have been taught a lesson by Princess Wenzhao and said many nasty things.”
Li Xuanzhen stared at the naan bread in his hands, his heart slowly sinking, sinking deeper and deeper, bottomless.
She was called shameless, falling to the point of being ridiculed, all just to survive…
Trembling, Li Xuanzhen tore apart the cold, hard naan and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing expressionlessly.
He had to conserve his strength and find an opportunity to escape Northern Rong with Li Zhongqian and rescue her from her cage.
“Find a way to locate Princess Fukang… ask her to come see me,” he said quietly.
The Hu woman agreed.
Zhu Lüyun couldn’t stomach Northern Rong food. The Hu woman, coming from Central Plains, was skilled in cooking, which was why Princess Imperial Yiqing had originally brought her to serve Zhu Lüyun.
That day, a guard came with a message that Zhu Lüyun had fallen ill from fear and anxiety during the journey. The Princess Imperial ordered the Hu woman to prepare some easily digestible food for her. The Hu woman readily agreed and found an opportunity to hide one of Li Xuanzhen’s rings in a rice cake, sending it to Zhu Lüyun’s tent.
The next day, the Hu woman was summoned to Zhu Lüyun’s tent.
Zhu Lüyun looked ill, but her pupils sparkled as she asked: “Where did this ring come from? Has he come? Has he come to find me? Has Li Xuanzhen come?”
The Hu woman shook her head and said: “Princess, I know nothing! I don’t know where this ring came from, I’ve never seen the Wei Crown Prince!”
After speaking, she deliberately showed a fearful expression, her whole body trembling.
Zhu Lüyun clutched the ring tightly. “He must have come!”
In this world, only Li Xuanzhen treated her best. He had finally been willing to abandon everything in Great Wei to come find her!
The Hu woman maintained complete ignorance and took her leave. After walking some distance, from the corner of her eye she saw two furtive figures behind her, but she continued walking toward the horse farm as if nothing was amiss.
That night, a commotion arose outside the horse farm.
Zhu Lüyun had come looking.
In the dugout, the Hu woman pricked up her ears, listening carefully to the movement outside, slowly letting out a breath.
A hundred paces away at the dungeon, the stable official guarding the horse farm was at his wit’s end, blocking Zhu Lüyun: “Princess, without the Princess Imperial’s written order, I cannot let you enter.”
Zhu Lüyun’s face was pale as she drew a dagger and placed it against her chest: “Stop hiding it from me! I know Li Xuanzhen is inside! Let me see him!”
The stable official was greatly alarmed. While signaling his subordinates with his eyes to quickly seek the Princess Imperial’s instructions, he tried to reason with her: “Princess, don’t be rash! Let’s talk this through. If anything happened to you, wouldn’t that betray the Princess Imperial’s loving care?”
Zhu Lüyun’s lips trembled: “I want to see Li Xuanzhen!”
As the situation was becoming chaotic, the Princess Imperial, having received word, hurried over. With a slap, she struck Zhu Lüyun, making her stagger.
“Yun’niang, he is the Wei Crown Prince, and you are a daughter of the Zhu family. Do you want to return to Wei with him?”
Tears streamed down Zhu Lüyun’s face as she choked out: “Aunt, he came thousands of li to find me. Please, let me see him! In all those years in Great Wei, only he treated me well. I can’t abandon him!”
As she spoke, she pressed down with force, the dagger piercing her clothes.
The Princess Imperial’s brow twitched as she sighed helplessly and waved her hand. “Go see him then.”
Zhu Lüyun was overjoyed. She put away the dagger and quickly walked into the dungeon.
The guards exchanged glances.
The Princess Imperial’s face showed exhaustion. After pondering for a while, she made her decision and instructed the guards: “Now that Yun’niang knows, don’t let her leave. Watch her and don’t let her step one foot outside the horse farm. There will be changes in the coming days. The Judge probably won’t think of her for now. When the army breaks camp, mix Li Xuanzhen in with the military slaves and take him along. Be careful, don’t let anyone discover him.”
“Yes.”
The guard lit a torch, illuminating the cell. The light fell on Li Xuanzhen, revealing his haggard face.
Zhu Lüyun rushed to the cell, tears falling like rain.
Li Xuanzhen raised his head, seeing Zhu Lüyun after their long separation, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
They gazed at each other for a long while.
When Zhu Lüyun had left Central Plains in anger, she had been determined never to return. But seeing Li Xuanzhen again, the anger that had made her leave so resolutely vanished in an instant, leaving only memories of his kindness to her.
She sobbed: “Brother Changsheng, how did you end up in Ordo? How did my aunt capture you?”
Li Xuanzhen sighed.
It was a long story.
…
Several months ago.
Li Xuanzhen, Li Zhongqian, and their guards had traveled day and night to reach Yi Prefecture, but before they could gather any information, they were imprisoned by Princess Imperial Yiqing’s people.
As it turned out, Princess Imperial Yiqing, fearing the Judge’s suspicion, had determined to cut off all of Zhu Lüyun’s connections with Central Plains. She had dismissed all the guards around Zhu Lüyun, including the informants Li Xuanzhen had previously planted among them.
With communication cut off, their informants had no chance to warn them. When Li Xuanzhen’s party reached Yi Prefecture, they were like sheep walking into a tiger’s den.
The guards immediately demanded: “Who are you? Were you sent by the Wei Crown Prince?”
To avoid revealing their identities, Li Xuanzhen decisively killed the spy who had led them into Northern Rong. The spy had originally been one of the Princess Imperial’s people. With his death, the Princess Imperial’s guards didn’t know their identities, and since Zhu Lüyun had been sent to the royal court, no one recognized them. They could only imprison them.
At that time, Yi Prefecture was in turmoil. The Princess Imperial’s guards were not vigilant, and Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian’s group killed the guards and escaped Yi Prefecture.
Since the spy was dead and they only knew a rudimentary Hu language, communication was difficult. With pursuers behind them and several men wounded, they had no time to gather information slowly. After discussion, the two decided to head straight for Haiduo’aling’s territory. Li Yaoying must be in his camp – they could infiltrate first and then make further plans.
Days later, they found Haiduo’aling’s territory. Just as they had changed into herdsmen’s clothes and were preparing to sneak in, a thunderous sound came from the horizon. A troop of well-disciplined cavalry suddenly attacked, forming battle formations to surround the camp.
Horns blared mournfully as the leading officer announced loudly: “We are here on the Crown Prince’s orders to take over Haiduo’aling’s territory. Everyone lay down your weapons and do not resist, or you will be killed without mercy!”
After speaking, dozens of archers galloped out, drawing their bows on horseback. A rain of arrows fell, turning more than ten Northern Rong men who had tried to break through the siege into pincushions.
Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian exchanged glances, realizing they had likely become entangled in a power struggle between the Northern Rong princes.
Haiduo’aling’s subordinates were unwilling to surrender. They shouted, quickly gathering troops to counterattack, engaging in combat with the Crown Prince’s men. The fighting began immediately, making the entire camp shake.
Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian were desperately anxious. They took advantage of the chaos to enter the camp searching for Li Yaoying but found nothing.
Seeing the battle was nearly over and Haiduo’aling’s camp about to fall, the two made a quick decision. Leading their guards with drawn swords, they cut down Northern Rong soldiers and rescued one of Haiduo’aling’s Han subordinates, breaking through with him.
“Where is Princess Wenzhao?”
Li Zhongqian’s sword slashed the Han subordinate’s arm as he asked.
The Han subordinate’s face turned ashen with fear: “Princess Wenzhao? You mean the Wei princess that the prince seized from the Yelu tribe?”
Li Xuanzhen’s face grew cold: “That’s right, it’s her. Where is Haiduo’aling keeping her?”
The Han subordinate hurriedly said: “I know! I know where Princess Wenzhao is imprisoned! She’s being held with the Yelu tribe’s captives! The prince favors her and always keeps her by his side. I can take you to find Princess Wenzhao, I just beg you two heroes to spare my life!”
After the Crown Prince took Haiduo’aling’s territory, he began a widespread purge of Haiduo’aling’s followers. Worried that Li Yaoying might be caught up in it, the two had no time to test him further and could only trust the Han subordinate for now.
They traveled while avoiding the Crown Prince’s pursuit.
During this time, Li Xuanzhen questioned the Han subordinate and found that he knew every detail about how Li Yaoying had ended up with the Yelu tribe and how she had been captured by Haiduo’aling. Moreover, he was as timid as a mouse and terrified of death, so he probably didn’t dare to lie. Gradually, they lowered their guard.
Three days later, they arrived at another camp.
The Han subordinate told Li Xuanzhen that Haiduo’aling had gone to Gaochang and wasn’t in the camp. The Crown Prince, Second Prince, Young Prince, and Haiduo’aling were openly and secretly fighting. Haiduo’aling might have died in Gaochang. Now his subordinates were all on tenterhooks, afraid of being implicated, and their defenses were lax.
Li Xuanzhen remained cautious and didn’t rush in, choosing to scout the perimeter first.
The Han subordinate kept urging them, saying: “Princess Wenzhao is right here. Last month I saw the Princess leading her beloved Wusun horse to drink water by the river.”
He then pointed to a Hu woman collecting sheep dung outside the camp, saying, “That’s Princess Wenzhao’s maid.”
Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian were desperate to rescue her. Hearing the Han subordinate mention the Wusun horse, they believed him fifty percent. When Li Xuanzhen recognized the Hu woman as indeed resembling one of Li Yaoying’s maids from her marriage escort, he became even more excited, his eyes reddening.
After entering the camp, Li Xuanzhen calmed down and suddenly felt something was amiss: with heavy snow and frozen rivers, how could anyone water horses by the river?
Just as he was about to warn Li Zhongqian, several sharp whistles cut through the air as cold arrows flew toward them. Dozens of Northern Rong soldiers leaped out from behind snow piles, surrounding them.
The enemy had been lying in wait for a long time. The archers were skilled, their arrows fierce and impossible to dodge. Both Li Zhongqian and Li Xuanzhen were hit. A guard cut off the arm of the Han subordinate who tried to escape, then protected the two as they retreated from the camp.
The brothers were severely wounded, and the remaining few guards were outnumbered. Fighting while retreating, they eventually exhausted their strength and were captured.
The Han subordinate, now missing an arm, was sweating profusely from pain as he sneered: “Prince Aling said that any Han people coming to rescue Princess Wenzhao, without exception, must be captured! You few must be either wealthy or noble. Given your age and martial skills, one of you must be Princess Wenzhao’s brother Li Zhongqian. Capturing Li Zhongqian is as good as capturing Princess Wenzhao! When the prince returns, this will be a great achievement!”
Li Xuanzhen was furious as he realized Li Yaoying’s true whereabouts from the Han subordinate’s words: Li Yaoying wasn’t here! Haiduo’aling had set a trap, planning to use Li Zhongqian to threaten Li Yaoying!
The Han subordinate had them thrown into a sheep pen.
Li Zhongqian’s previous wounds hadn’t fully healed, and now the arrow wounds had aggravated them, leaving him in a serious condition. Li Xuanzhen was helpless.
Soon after, the Han subordinate, his wounds hastily bandaged, brought a Hu woman to the sheep pen and asked, pointing at Li Xuanzhen’s group: “Look, do you recognize any of them? Which one is Li Zhongqian?”
Li Xuanzhen’s heart sank. He had seen this Hu woman called Tali when he went to the Yelu tribe.
Unexpectedly, Tali squinted, carefully examining them one by one before timidly saying: “I don’t recognize any of them. I’ve never seen them before.”
The Han subordinate left with a cold laugh.
Li Xuanzhen thought Tali didn’t remember him, but she looked back at him meaningfully.
He remained expressionless.
That night, Tali brought them food. Looking at Li Zhongqian with his phoenix eyes and thick brows, she said: “Young Master must be Princess Wenzhao’s brother. When I was in Chang’an, I often heard the manor people mention you. The Princess said that no matter where she ended up, Young Master would surely come to save her…”
At this point, she frowned at Li Xuanzhen, as if puzzled why the man who had escorted the Princess to her marriage was also here.
Li Xuanzhen remained silent.
Li Zhongqian was drenched in sweat but struggled to sit up despite the pain: “You know Mingyue? Where is she?!”
Tali said softly: “Young Master, don’t worry. Princess Wenzhao is very safe now. She’s in the royal court, under the Buddha’s Son’s protection.”
Li Xuanzhen suddenly raised his head, his pupils contracting.
Li Yaoying was in the royal court?
How had she come to know that monk ruler with whom he had wanted to ally?
Before he could ask more, Tali looked warily around and lowered her voice: “Young Master, Prince Aling is determined to have the Princess. The Buddha’s Son has announced to all countries that the Princess is his Matangi woman. Prince Aling can’t find an opportunity to act. The Judge gave him advice, teaching him to have people block news and lure the Princess’s relatives to come save her. The Prince knows the only person the Princess cares about is the Young Master, so he sets this trap, just waiting for the Young Master to take the bait.”
Li Zhongqian was dizzy and only heard that Li Yaoying was now safe, missing everything else.
Li Xuanzhen listened with cold sweat, feeling a close brush with disaster.
He asked: “Where is Haiduo’aling now?”
They had to escape before Haiduo’aling returned.
Tali shook her head: “No one knows where Prince Aling is. The situation is very chaotic now. Young Master, you must escape quickly. The Prince will surely use you to threaten Princess Wenzhao. The Prince’s subordinates once followed him to Han territory – surely someone will recognize you. Once they find someone who can identify Young Master, you won’t be able to escape.”
With that, she hurriedly left.
Li Xuanzhen leaned against the wall, looking at the severely wounded Li Zhongqian. He closed his eyes briefly and instructed his guards.
“Haiduo’aling is unfathomable. We must find a way to leave this place quickly. I will look for an opportunity to create chaos. When that happens, take Li Zhongqian and escape to the royal court.”
The guards asked anxiously: “Then what about you, Your Highness?”
Li Xuanzhen pulled the iron arrow from his arm, suppressing a groan. His expression is unchanged, he gazed into the night beyond the sheep pen.
“If Li Zhongqian dies here… she will never forgive me.”
Li Yaoying had once said that for Li Zhongqian’s sake, she would die together with him.
At the time, Li Xuanzhen had dismissed it as angry words.
His heart had been filled only with hatred, and he hadn’t taken her words seriously. Subconsciously, he had thought that after Li Zhongqian died, she would have no one to rely on and would eventually face reality…
And then what?
He had never actually thought seriously about what would happen next.
His mother’s dying words weighed heavily on his heart like a thousand jun. He had focused on eliminating Li Zhongqian quickly but had been unwilling to think about what to do with her after Li Zhongqian’s death.
Kill her?
Torture her?
Or imprison her and force her to submit?
Li Xuanzhen had been unwilling to think about it as if everything would naturally resolve itself once Consort Xie and Li Zhongqian were dead.
The first time he realized he could be soft-hearted toward her was in Xiangzhou.
That night, the Wei army had won a victory. At the celebration banquet, Li Yaoying appeared beside Li Zhongqian dressed as a servant boy, obediently kneeling to serve her brother wine and dishes, her long eyes darting about with interest at the festivities.
Others didn’t know her identity, but Li Xuanzhen recognized her at a glance and laughed coldly to himself.
She disliked constraints – at Red Cliffs, she would often dress as a young noble son to play at the docks. True to being Li Zhongqian’s sister, she indeed loved to make mischief.
During the feast, a dancing girl suddenly revealed weapons, intending to assassinate Li Zhongqian.
Li Zhongqian was half drunk and hadn’t noticed the danger. Li Xuanzhen watched coldly, imagining the scene of Li Zhongqian’s blood spraying everywhere, an indescribable satisfaction filling his heart.
He wished for Li Zhongqian’s death and would use any means to achieve it.
However, in the next moment, his body went cold, and his hand unconsciously reached for his sword.
Li Yaoying had thrown herself over Li Zhongqian without hesitation. She knew no martial arts and was just a young lady who couldn’t even lift a writing desk, yet the moment she saw the short sword in the dancer’s hand, without thinking, she so decisively and firmly shielded her brother.
The short sword fell, cutting into her body.
The sound of cloth being torn by the blade was crystal clear.
In that instant, Li Xuanzhen felt the wind howling in his ears, the scene before him suddenly becoming blurry. His blood seemed to boil, making his mind buzz loudly.
He drew his sword and flew forward. When he came to his senses, the dancing girl was dead by his sword.
Although Li Zhongqian was still half drunk, he had instinctively rolled on the ground with Li Yaoying the moment he sensed the killing intent, avoiding that strike.
Others at the feast reacted, rushing forward to kick away the dancing girl’s corpse.
Li Zhongqian had sobered considerably and was furiously angry. He got up, carrying the unconscious Li Yaoying away hurriedly.
Li Xuanzhen stood there covered in blood, deaf to the chaos around him.
He watched Li Yaoying, eyes tightly closed in Li Zhongqian’s arms, as his sword clattered to the ground.
Li Zhongqian would rather be wounded himself than let her come to harm. Although his reaction had been a beat slow, the dancing girl still couldn’t succeed.
That being the case, why had he interfered?
If he had come to his senses then, there wouldn’t have been so many subsequent events, and Li Yaoying wouldn’t have suffered so many hardships.
Now Li Zhongqian had come to Northern Rong to save her. If he died here in Northern Rong, when Li Yaoying learned the truth later, she might suspect it was intentional.
She would hate him for life.
Blood flowed freely from his arm wound, which hurt like a needle to the heart. Li Xuanzhen closed his eyes and said: “I’m hard to kill, not so easily done away with. Li Zhongqian isn’t as tough as me. Don’t worry about me, take him away first. I’ll draw them away.”
Moreover… if he fell into Haiduo’aling’s hands, he couldn’t threaten Li Yaoying.
She didn’t care whether he lived or died.
The guards exchanged glances, sighed deeply, and quietly agreed.