Night finally descended, cold moonlight illuminating the tall thickets before them. The bushes swayed constantly as hurried footsteps and shouting voices grew closer and closer. In the opposite direction lay the depths of the dense forest – but was it sanctuary or a dead end? Xiao Du furrowed his brow tightly, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He released his clenched fists and finally made his decision, saying: “Does Your Majesty keep your word!”

Zhao Yan clasped his hands behind his back and no longer looked at him, afraid he might immediately regret his decision. He only squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: “An emperor’s word is his bond.”

With a “clang,” Xiao Du endured the severe pain in his shoulder as he picked up the saber that had fallen to the ground. He ran wildly toward the dense forest, the moonlight stretching his shadow long until it finally disappeared into the rustling depths of the woods.

Zhao Yan turned his head to watch the direction he had left, complex emotions flowing in his gaze. Just then, the thickets behind him parted as Xia Qing finally arrived with a squad of Imperial Guards. Seeing Zhao Yan’s dragon robe stained with blood and his hem torn, Xia Qing immediately knelt and begged forgiveness: “Your subject failed to protect Your Majesty properly. I beg Your Majesty’s punishment.”

Zhao Yan looked toward the two Imperial Guards lying on the ground and said indifferently: “They fought to the death to save me. Xiao Du fled in that direction. He’s wounded and certainly can’t escape far – quickly pursue him.”

Xia Qing immediately accepted the command. He assigned two Imperial Guards to protect the emperor’s safety, then pursued in the direction Zhao Yan had indicated. At that moment, he heard that usually gentle monarch command in an tone that brooked no argument: “Once you catch up to him, kill him without question. Remember to bring his head back for me to see.”

The icy voice echoed in the dark night, making Xia Qing feel somewhat chilled, but he quickly responded loudly: “Your subject will not fail in this mission!”

In the dense forest shrouded by night, one person fled in panic carrying hope while another pursued step by step with murderous intent. Xiao Du was like a cornered beast, hiding here and there throughout the woods. Fortunately, though he was severely wounded, his wilderness experience was far richer than that of the Imperial Guards who had always remained in the imperial city. He deliberately left traces in several patches of grass, then took detours, causing the pursuers behind him to constantly lose direction and take many wrong turns. But he understood he could not be careless – the shadow of death clung to him constantly, and if he relaxed even slightly, it would pounce and devour him.

He could not die here. He had promised someone that he would definitely return, and he could not let her wait too long.

Finally, he stumbled to the foot of the mountain and looked up at the rugged mountain path, understanding that with his current stamina, he could never persist. He pressed his wound and gritted his teeth as he leaned against the mountain ridge, his legs already numb beyond feeling, while the Imperial Guards could arrive at any moment.

Could this path before him truly be a dead end… Xiao Du closed his eyes weakly, as if seeing those gentle eyes again, parting the thick fog before him to kindle light – she was still waiting for his return. This thought gradually cleared his mind, so he quickly opened his eyes and rapidly searched his surroundings for anything useful for camouflage. Finally, after he had worked up a sweat forcing himself to complete the trap, he heard many footsteps beginning to approach. He quickly hid behind a large boulder.

Xia Qing led a squad of Imperial Guards in hot pursuit toward this direction. Suddenly he raised his hand to stop those behind him, then by moonlight saw something ahead glinting faintly in the grass, very much like an ornament Xiao Du wore.

An Imperial Guard behind him immediately started to run over to investigate, but Xia Qing stopped him with a shout. He picked up a nearby stone and threw it toward that spot. Sure enough, the stone made a “thunk” as it fell down – the grass and vines actually concealed a trap.

The Imperial Guard behind him broke into a cold sweat from fright. Xia Qing crouched by the spot and said: “This was probably set by mountain hunters to catch fierce beasts. Xiao Du discovered it and re-covered it, hoping to lure us to fall in.” The Imperial Guard felt increasingly frightened hearing this – traps for catching fierce beasts usually had sharp blades buried in them, and falling in would mean certain death or serious injury.

Then Xia Qing said again: “It’s too dark here to see the size of this trap clearly. You must all be careful – go around this side and continue searching up the mountain.”

The Imperial Guards immediately followed orders, while Xiao Du hiding behind the boulder let out a long breath. Actually, that trap was hastily made by him, only a few feet deep at most and couldn’t harm anyone’s life. But since Xia Qing had discovered the trap, for caution’s sake he would certainly choose to go around, never thinking that Xiao Du was hiding right behind it.

Hearing the footsteps gradually fade away, Xiao Du supported himself against the rock wall and barely walked out using his sword point to prop himself up. Just as he was about to rest briefly before leaving as quickly as possible, he suddenly heard a voice behind him say: “The Marquis truly has excellent stratagems.”

Turning around, he saw Xia Qing standing by the trap with arms folded, head tilted and looking completely at ease as he stared at him.

Xiao Du’s expression changed dramatically, his hands unconsciously gripping his sword hilt tighter. But suddenly his expression relaxed as he tossed the sword aside and leaned against the mountain wall, saying: “Commander Xia deliberately sent those Imperial Guards away – what exactly do you want to discuss with me?”

Xia Qing laughed heartily and stepped forward to support him, saying: “I must ask the Marquis to move to another location for our conversation.”

The two found a concealed spot. Xiao Du’s body had long since reached its limit; he sat on the ground and said hoarsely: “Do you have any water?”

Xia Qing untied the water pouch from his body and tossed it to him, smiling as he said: “I never imagined that in such chaotic circumstances, the Marquis could still discern my signal. Marquis Xuanyuan truly lives up to his reputation.”

Xiao Du gulped down several mouthfuls of water, finally feeling the burning in his chest subside somewhat. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said: “In that moment when you rescued me, you deliberately gave me a signal to find a way to hide and meet you alone. It seems you also discerned His Majesty’s intentions today.”

Xia Qing also lifted his robes and sat beside him, saying: “I was only speculating. I only know that His Majesty has elevated me these years simply because the Empress Dowager needed someone surnamed Xia to control the Imperial Guards, and I was the most easily won over person in the Xia family. But the Xia clan has extended their reach further and further these years, becoming increasingly greedy. I know His Majesty can barely tolerate it anymore – he just needs the right timing and excuse. The military authority in my hands, he will find a way to reclaim sooner or later. So when those black-clothed men rushed out today, I suspected something was wrong. When I saw that token with the character ‘Xiao’ on it, I realized he actually wanted to kill two birds with one stone, eliminating both you and me simultaneously.”

Xiao Du smiled faintly and said: “I never expected Commander Xia to not only have a way with women, but also see political situations so clearly.”

Xia Qing ignored the teasing tone in his words and said: “Only because I’ve had to read people’s expressions since childhood to survive and earn my current position. However, I also didn’t expect the Marquis could burn his boats behind him, using this self-injury stratagem to secure an escape route.”

Xiao Du’s expression grew solemn. Actually, even he himself couldn’t distinguish whether that moment when he lunged toward Zhao Yan was for Zhao Yan’s life or his own. Perhaps that was simply how things were between them – calculation, wariness, and remaining brotherly affection were always intertwined and inseparable. He was simply gambling that no matter what intentions Zhao Yan harbored, he would still remember the boy in his heart who had regarded him as a brother.

At this moment, Xia Qing glanced at the sky outside and said: “It’s getting late – we needn’t continue beating around the bush. Forgive my directness, but the Marquis’s current situation is extremely dire. Both the Xia family and the emperor want you dead. The three chancelleries and six ministries in court are almost entirely controlled by the Xia clan. If something truly happens, even the Xiao family army is too far away to help. But I hold the military authority over the capital’s forbidden troops. If I could secretly help you, the situation would be completely different.”

Xiao Du glanced at him sideways and said: “How can I trust you? After all, you do bear the Xia surname.”

Xia Qing began laughing, but that laughter carried deep coldness. “Then let me speak plainly with you. Whether the Xia clan lives or dies, even whether Xia Mingzhong lives or dies, has nothing to do with me. I only need to preserve what I currently have – everything else I don’t care about.”

Xiao Du couldn’t help but sneer as well, saying: “Then how can I be certain you’ll wholeheartedly help me?”

Xia Qing turned to look at him, his smile becoming increasingly meaningful as he said: “That’s actually simple – just marry your sister to me. Once you and I become in-laws, I naturally won’t mistreat my brother-in-law.”

Xiao Du’s expression finally changed. After being stunned for a moment, he realized what was meant: “You mean Xuan’er! You want to marry Xuan’er?”

Xia Qing’s eyes flashed with cunning as he said: “Exactly – Third Miss Xiao Zhixuan of the Marquis’s manor.”

Xiao Du’s face turned cold as he said: “Preposterous! Xuan’er only just came of age this year. Do you think I would marry her to a notorious rake ten-some years her senior for the sake of profit?”

Xia Qing was somewhat angered by his words, the gaze fixed on him gradually turning cold, while Xiao Du glared back at him without yielding an inch. Finally, Xia Qing turned away and resumed his indifferent smile, saying: “No matter – it’s normal for the Marquis to be unable to accept this immediately. One day, I’ll make Third Miss willingly marry me.”

“You!” Xiao Du’s anger flared even higher. Xuan’er was the sister he had cherished and protected since childhood – how could he allow such a person to defile her?

At this moment, rustling footsteps began to sound outside again. Xia Qing listened intently for a while, then suddenly stood up and sneered: “Let’s set this matter aside for now. The Marquis should worry about whether he can escape alive right now. His Majesty specifically said I must bring your head to see him.”

Xiao Du snorted coldly: “If I die, you won’t survive either.”

Xia Qing naturally understood his words were true, but couldn’t think of a good solution for the moment. While keeping watch on the situation outside, he said: “Hide here first. I’ll lead them away, then you find a chance to escape.”

Xiao Du had been sitting for a long time and finally recovered some vitality. He brushed the dust from his clothes and said: “If I flee, my family will bear the crime of treason in my place. Help me see His Majesty now – I have a way to get us both out of this alive.”