Tang Xiu also nodded: “Indeed so. Then according to Master Xie’s opinion, where should we go?”

“We must act contrary to expectations. With so many of us, we’ll easily leave tracks on the road, and I’m afraid we might encounter pursuing soldiers head-on.”

Xie Yue was somewhat hesitant.

Manager Zhong pondered: “How about we still go to the Princess Consort’s manor? On the road from the capital to Huichuan County, there are several farms that are all the Princess Consort’s properties.”

Everyone looked toward Manager Zhong.

Xie Yue said with some surprise: “Aren’t the Princess Consort’s properties mainly distributed in the south?”

“Yes, but the Princess Consort said that one must always be prepared to avoid trouble. In leisure time, acquiring more properties is never wrong.”

The Elite Tiger Guards didn’t know the Princess Consort well, but they were generally admiring. As for Jingzhe, Liao Zhibing and others who had followed Qin Yining for years, they had long been convinced by her capabilities and weren’t as surprised as these people.

“If that’s the case, then let’s go to the Princess Consort’s manor.”

Tang Xiu said: “I’ll take a portion of people and ride fast toward Liu Family Village, leaving some traces along the way. This way we can attract attention. You take this opportunity to escort the Princess Consort to rest and recover.”

Xie Yue lowered his head and thought for a moment, finally nodding: “Very well. Going north leads to the frontier. Why don’t you go directly to find the Prince? Leave plenty of traces along the way. If you can brazenly pretend the Princess Consort is with you, that would be even better. If you encounter pursuing soldiers, scatter and regroup before the Prince’s tent at the frontier.”

“This is good, but regarding the Princess Consort…”

“The Princess Consort shouldn’t have too many people around her.” Xie Yue looked at the disciples of Tianji Sect and smiled: “With immortal sect disciples present, the Princess Consort’s safety should be secure. This time, why not let all the Elite Tiger Guards return to the Prince’s side? The Prince is also in need of people right now.”

The Tianji Sect disciples led by Fang Hailing all cupped their hands.

Jingzhe said: “Rest assured, we’ll stay with the Princess Consort at all times. Too many people would actually draw attention.”

Liao Zhibing also said: “Yes, our Azure Sky Alliance brothers are spread throughout the martial world. With just one word from the Alliance Leader, getting people isn’t difficult.”

Seeing Liao Zhibing say this, Tang Xiu carefully considered Xie Yue’s analysis and felt every sentence made sense. Their staying would actually make them a bigger target. It would be better to draw the pursuing soldiers’ attention away from the Princess Consort while going to join the Prince. This way they could both inform the Prince of the Princess Consort’s situation and provide more of their own people around the Prince.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiu nodded: “Good, we’ll follow your instructions, sir.”

After speaking, he couldn’t help but look toward Ji Yun who was crouched at the tree hollow entrance taking care of Qin Yining.

Ji Yun smiled at Tang Xiu: “Be careful on the road.”

Tang Xiu’s face instantly broke into a joyful smile, like a child who had received candy, so happy he almost spun in place.

“Good, you too, take good care of yourself.”

Ji Yun smiled and nodded.

Seeing their young romantic behavior, Xie Yue couldn’t help but smile.

At this time of being hunted with the Princess Consort gravely injured, this bit of warmth was enough to light a spark of hope in people’s hearts.

After the discussion, Tang Xiu led all the Elite Tiger Guards in quietly and orderly saluting Xie Yue and the others, then turned to find weapons and horses in the forest. They hitched up the carriage Qin Yining had ridden earlier and deliberately headed north toward Liu Family Village, intentionally leaving hoofprints and wheel tracks in the snow.

The remaining people found long branches and made a simple stretcher with dead branches, vines, and cloaks. They placed Qin Yining and Tianji Zi on it, taking turns carrying them as they headed in the opposite direction of the forest, toward the farm Manager Zhong had mentioned.

In the capital, Li Qitian heard of the failed assassination and flew into a rage, raising his hand to hurl his inkstone violently at the shoulder of Wang Maozhi, Commander of the Capital Guards.

“Fools! All of you are fools! Raise soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one moment! You’re no match for the Tatars in battle, but how can you also fail at pursuing a woman! What use is there in keeping you fools!”

Wang Maozhi knelt on one knee with his head lowered, saying nothing.

Xiong Jinshui and other eunuchs had long since obediently retreated with lowered heads and eyes to the most inconspicuous corner.

Li Qitian paced back and forth in anger: “What a perfect opportunity! With so many of you, you can’t snatch back two babies in swaddling clothes, and you can’t kill a weak woman with no strength to bind a chicken. What exactly are you good for!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” Wang Maozhi bowed.

“Calm anger, calm anger – whenever something happens, you only know how to tell me to calm my anger, but none of you ever give me peace of mind! Tell me, what should we do next!”

Wang Maozhi cupped his hands, quickly glanced up at Li Qitian, then said in a low voice: “This subject will continue investigating the fugitives’ whereabouts.”

Li Qitian took a deep breath before saying: “I give you seven days. If you cannot bring me the corpse of Prince Zhongshun’s consort and those two little bastards, you’ll see what happens.”

“Yes!” Wang Maozhi hastily kowtowed and carefully withdrew.

Reaching outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he let out a long breath of stale air.

Pang Xiao dressed properly and turned back to pick up the riding whip from the table.

Ji Zeyu grabbed Pang Xiao, his stunningly handsome face wrinkled like a bitter gourd: “Pang Zhixi, you can’t go back. If you go back, you’ll surely die!”

“I know. But so what?” Pang Xiao’s face was covered with stubble from neglect, his hair simply tied back with a hair band, giving him a somewhat decadent air that made him appear more handsome and steady.

“She suffered like this because of me. I couldn’t give her a peaceful life, making her worry about my military affairs while pregnant. As if that wasn’t enough, I caused her to be tortured like that…”

“She’s such a proud person – when has she ever suffered such humiliation? Thinking carefully, every hardship she’s endured has been because of me.”

Pang Xiao grabbed his hair in extreme frustration.

Seeing Pang Xiao like this, Ji Zeyu also frowned tightly: “Zhixi, you needn’t be like this. This isn’t your fault. If anything, we can only blame fate’s arrangement. Moreover, since she was willing to follow you, she knew what hardships she would face as your Princess Consort. She was willing in her heart.”

“But I’m not willing! From the beginning I selfishly pursued her, unilaterally brought her under my protection, all to give her a good life. I wanted her to live happily and peacefully, but what kind of life have I given her?” Pang Xiao shook his head. “I really can’t stand it anymore. A-Lan, do you know what this feels like? Watching her suffer while I’m thousands of miles away, unable to help with anything, only able to watch helplessly. This feeling is just too… too…”

“I know.” Ji Zeyu lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly. “How am I any different? Unable to help either.”

Pang Xiao, immersed in his own thoughts, didn’t carefully consider Ji Zeyu’s words: “What I can do now is obediently go back and await the Emperor’s judgment.”

“What use would that be? If you go to your death, will the Emperor spare the Qin family and your children?”

“But I can’t think of any other way!”

Pang Xiao suddenly turned around, his phoenix eyes bloodshot, his expression more crazed than ever before.

Ji Zeyu was startled by what he saw. He stepped forward and grabbed Pang Xiao’s shoulders, saying in a low voice: “Rebel then.”

Pang Xiao was stunned.

“Rebel then, lead the troops back to attack.” Ji Zeyu continued: “You needn’t worry – I’ll help you.”

Pang Xiao never expected Ji Zeyu to say such a thing.

For a moment, he was truly tempted.

If he could really lead troops back to attack, wouldn’t Li Qitian surrender? Would he still dare treat his Yining like that?

But such irrational thoughts lasted only an instant. Pang Xiao smiled bitterly and shook his head: “If I led troops to rebel against Li Qitian for personal reasons, wouldn’t I become the same type of person as Li Qitian? Now the war with the Tatars is at a critical juncture. In a few more days, I think we can drive the Tatars near the death zone by the desert. At such a crucial time, if I led troops in rebellion, wouldn’t I give the Tatars a chance to catch their breath?

“Moreover, these people follow me to fight the Tatars, to drive out the invaders who occupied their lands and killed their families. But if I asked them to rebel against the court and risk their lives for me alone, would they truly be willing?

“I don’t want so many people to risk their lives for my single decision, nor do I want anyone to be kept in the dark. The Emperor’s actions are extreme, but that’s a matter between him and me. There’s really no need to create so many consequences for this. Great Zhou has only been peaceful for how long?”

Ji Zeyu looked at Pang Xiao’s serious expression and shook his head with a laugh: “You’re still the same. So stubborn about principles.”

“I’m not stubborn about principles.” Pang Xiao sighed: “There are some rules I must abide by. There are some bottom lines that must never be abandoned.”

“So you really plan to go back and face death? All for your Princess Consort and your children?”

“In this world, is there anyone else who could make me so willingly face death?”

Ji Zeyu’s lips moved, but after a long while he sighed wordlessly: “I don’t agree.”

“A-Lan.” Pang Xiao patted Ji Zeyu’s shoulder. “Good brother, I know you mean well. But there are some things that must be done even knowing the consequences – this is a person’s principles and bottom line. I am a man, a husband, and a father to children. I cannot just watch and ignore them.”

Ji Zeyu pressed his lips together without speaking, only looking at him silently.

Pang Xiao punched his shoulder: “Cheer up. I’ll leave the Tatars to you. I believe in your abilities – dealing with Si Qin and Lu Heng won’t be a problem at all.”

“Are you really determined to leave? If you go this time, we might never…”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao sighed: “A-Lan, I know. Having you as a brother in this lifetime, I’m already content. We didn’t kowtow to the ground for nothing. Over these years you’ve helped me greatly. You are my close friend and confidant, even more a brother bound by blood thicker than water – this will never change. Even if I perish in the capital this time, the brotherhood between us will never change.”

Ji Zeyu pressed his lips tighter, moisture gathering in his peach blossom eyes. This man with his cold exterior and decisive killing nature was now filled with such sorrow.

“Pang Zhixi, I won’t allow you to go back and die. Isn’t it just Li Qitian? I’ll rebel with you together.”