Night finally fell, with cold moonlight illuminating the man-high bushes ahead. The foliage swayed continuously as the urgent sounds of footsteps and shouts grew closer. In the opposite direction, the depths of the dense forest held either a chance for survival or a dead end. Xiao Du furrowed his brows tightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He released his clenched fists and made a decision, saying, “Does Your Majesty’s word hold?”
Zhao Yan, with his back turned, couldn’t bear to look at him, fearing he might immediately regret his decision. Through gritted teeth, he uttered, “A monarch’s word is law.”
With a loud clang, Xiao Du, enduring the pain in his shoulder, picked up the fallen saber and sprinted into the forest. The moonlight stretched his shadow long before it disappeared into the rustling woods.
Zhao Yan turned to watch him leave, a complex mix of emotions in his eyes. Just then, the bushes behind him were parted, and Xia Qing arrived with a squad of Imperial Guards. Seeing Zhao Yan’s royal robe stained with blood and his clothing torn, Xia Qing immediately knelt and pleaded, “Your Majesty, I failed to protect you. Please punish me.”
Zhao Yan glanced at the two fallen Imperial Guards and said calmly, “They died saving me. Xiao Du fled that way. He’s wounded and won’t get far. Go after him.”
Xia Qing obeyed without hesitation. He assigned two guards to stay and protect the emperor, then pursued in the direction Zhao Yan had indicated. As he moved away, the emperor, usually gentle, commanded in a tone that brooked no argument, “Once you catch him, kill him on sight. Bring his head back to me.”
The cold command echoed in the night, sending a chill through Xia Qing, but he quickly responded, “I will not fail, Your Majesty!”
In the dark forest, one person fled desperately, clinging to hope, while another pursued relentlessly, driven by a killing intent. Xiao Du, like a cornered beast, darted through the woods, evading capture. Despite his injuries, his experience in the wild surpassed that of the city-bound Imperial Guards. He intentionally left traces in several places before circling back, leading his pursuers on a wild chase. But he knew he couldn’t afford to be careless—the shadow of death loomed ever closer, ready to pounce at any moment of slackness.
He couldn’t die here. He had promised someone that he would return and couldn’t make her wait too long.
At last, he staggered to the foot of a mountain, looking up at the rugged path. He knew his strength wouldn’t hold out. Clutching his wound, he leaned against the mountain ridge, his legs numb and weak. The Imperial Guards could arrive at any moment.
Was this the end? Xiao Du closed his eyes in despair, but then he saw those gentle eyes piercing through the fog, lighting his way. She was still waiting for him. The thought cleared his mind. Quickly, he searched for anything he could use as a disguise. Sweat poured down his face as he set up a trap, and just as he finished, he heard the approaching footsteps. He quickly hid behind a large rock.
The guard behind them was about to rush over to inspect, but Xia Qing stopped him, picking up a nearby stone and tossing it toward the suspicious area. With a thud, the stone fell, revealing a concealed trap under the vines.
The guard broke into a cold sweat as Xia Qing crouched down. “This seems to be a trap set by hunters to capture wild animals in the mountains. His Highness probably stumbled upon it and covered it up again, hoping to lure us into it.” The guard shuddered at the thought; such traps usually contained sharp blades, and falling into one would mean either death or serious injury.
Xia Qing cautioned, “It’s too dark to see the size of this trap clearly for now. Be careful, and let’s go around it to continue searching up the mountain.”
The guard nodded, following Xia Qing’s orders. Meanwhile, His Highness, hidden behind the large rock, breathed a sigh of relief. He had hastily set up the trap, which was only a few feet deep and not meant to cause any serious harm. But since Xia Qing had discovered it, he would likely choose to circumvent it. Little did Xia Qing know, that His Highness was hiding just behind the trap.
As he heard the footsteps gradually fading away, His Highness pushed himself up with the support of the rock and the blade of his sword. He was about to take a moment to rest before leaving when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.
“His Highness is indeed cunning,” Xia Qing remarked, standing casually by the trap, arms folded, and a relaxed expression on his face.
His Highness’s expression changed abruptly. His hands instinctively tightened around the sword hilt, but then he relaxed, tossing the sword aside and leaning against the mountain wall. “Commander Xia, you deliberately sent away the Imperial Guards. What do you want to discuss with me?”
Xia Qing chuckled, stepping forward to help him up. “Before we talk, Your Highness, may I request a word?”
They found a secluded spot. His Highness, weary from his ordeal, sat down heavily on the ground, his voice hoarse. “Do you have any water?”
Xia Qing handed him his water pouch, smiling. “I didn’t expect Your Highness to catch my hint amidst the chaos earlier. The reputation of the Marquis of Xuanyuan is well-deserved.”
His Highness drank deeply, feeling the heat in his chest subside slightly. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Your timely rescue hinted at a desire for me to find a way to hide and meet you alone. It seems you also understand His Majesty’s intentions today.”
Sitting beside him, Xia Qing explained, “It was just speculation on my part. I know His Majesty has been supporting me because Empress Dowager needs someone from the Xia family to control the Imperial Guards, and I’m the best candidate. But the Xia family’s influence has been growing, and His Majesty’s patience is wearing thin. He’s just waiting for an opportunity and an excuse to reclaim my power. When those assassins appeared today, I suspected something was amiss. It wasn’t until I saw the ‘Xiao’ token that I realized he intended to eliminate both of us in one fell swoop.”
His Highness smirked. “It seems Commander Xia not only understands women but also political situations.”
Ignoring the sarcasm, Xia Qing continued, “Growing up, I had to learn to read people’s words and actions to survive and earn my position today. But I never expected the Marquis of Xuanyuan to resort to such extreme measures to secure an escape route for himself.”
His Highness’s expression darkened. Even he couldn’t be sure whether his actions towards Zhao Yan were out of loyalty or self-preservation. Perhaps their relationship had always been a mixture of calculation, distrust, and the remnants of camaraderie. He had gambled that no matter what Zhao Yan had in mind, he would still remember the young boy who regarded him as a brother.
Glancing at the sky, Xia Qing remarked, “It’s getting late. There’s no point in beating around the bush. I’ll be blunt, Your Highness: your current situation is dire. Both the Xia family and the emperor want you dead. Nearly all the government offices and ministries are under Xia’s control. If anything were to happen, the Marquis’s army wouldn’t be able to save you. However, I have control over the Imperial Guards in the palace. If I were to help you covertly, the situation would change entirely.”
His Highness eyed him skeptically. “How can I trust you, especially considering you’re from the Xia family?”
Xia Qing chuckled, his laughter tinged with a profound chill. “Then let me tell you the truth. The fate of the Xia family, even that of Xia Mingzhong, has nothing to do with me. I only care about preserving what I have now. Everything else is irrelevant to me.”
Xia Wuyu couldn’t help but sneer. “And how can I be sure that you’ll wholeheartedly help me?”
Xia Qing turned to look at him, his smile growing more meaningful. “That’s simple. Just marry your sister to me. Once we’re relatives by marriage, I won’t mistreat my esteemed brother-in-law.”
Xia Wuyu’s expression finally changed, and he realized after a moment, “You mean Xuan’er! You want to marry Xuan’er?”
A hint of cunning flashed in Xia Qing’s eyes. “Exactly, the third Miss of the Marquis’ Mansion, Xiao Zhixuan.”
Xia Wuyu’s expression turned cold. “How dare you! Xuan’er has just come of age this year. Do you think I would marry her off to a disreputable, much older libertine for the sake of benefits?”
Xia Qing was somewhat annoyed by his words, and a chilling gleam crept into his gaze as he stared at Xia Wuyu. But Xia Wuyu held his ground, returning his gaze unflinchingly. Finally, Xia Qing turned away and put on his indifferent smile again. “It’s all right. It’s normal for His Highness not to accept it for a while. Someday, I will make the third Miss willingly marry me.”
“You!” Xia Wuyu’s anger flared even more. Xuan’er was the little sister he had cared for since childhood. How could he let such a person lay a finger on her?
At that moment, the footsteps outside began to approach again. Xia Qing listened intently for a while, then stood up abruptly, sneering, “Let’s put this matter aside for now. Marquis, you should be more concerned about whether you can make it out alive. His Majesty has ordered me to bring back your head.”
Xia Wuyu snorted. “If I die, you won’t live either.”
Xia Qing naturally understood the truth of his words, but for a while, he couldn’t think of a better idea. He kept an eye on the situation outside and said, “Hide here for now. I’ll lead them away, and then you can find a chance to escape.”
Xia Wuyu had been sitting for a long time, and now he finally regained some strength. He brushed off the dust on his body and said, “If I escape, my family will bear the blame for my alleged rebellion. Help me meet His Majesty now, and I’ll find a way for both of us to escape together.”