At this moment, Yunyi suddenly pressed forward, risking injury to seize a long sword from one of the guards, then forced everyone back and retreated to the side.

“Block the door, don’t let her escape!” Before Li Xuanba finished speaking, the situation in the hall suddenly changed. It turned out that Yunyi’s actions weren’t meant for escape, but to approach Li Jiancheng who stood nearby. Fortunately, Li Shimin moved extremely quickly and pulled Li Jiancheng away. However, this put himself in danger. In the next moment, the gleaming blade was already at his throat. “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll kill him!”

Li Jiancheng secretly blamed himself for being careless, his face ugly as he said, “Release second brother quickly, or I’ll have you suffer the torture of a thousand cuts!”

Yunyi sneered coldly, “If I release him, you won’t kill me? Stop the nonsense and back away!”

Li Shimin’s face was ashen as he said, “Why are you doing this?” He recognized Yunyi and remembered that he had once helped her out of trouble, but truly couldn’t understand why this seemingly ordinary palace maid would do such a thing.

“I have my reasons—you don’t need to know.” After saying this, Yunyi added, “As long as I can leave here safely, I’ll release you without harming you in the slightest.” Speaking thus, she said to Li Jiancheng, “Immediately have the guards withdraw, or I’ll kill him!”

Li Jiancheng’s expression changed as he said urgently, “Don’t act rashly!”

Her answer was fresh blood flowing from the blade drawn across Li Shimin’s neck. Li Xuanba said through gritted teeth, “Vile woman, the Governor’s residence is heavily guarded. Even if you’ve captured second brother, you can’t hope to leave.”

“How do we know without trying?!” Yunyi said coldly, “Or… do you want Second Young Master to die?” Speaking thus, she was about to tighten the blade again when Li Jiancheng quickly said, “Don’t act rashly!”

Yunyi stopped her movement and stared coldly at Li Jiancheng. He ground his teeth audibly for a long time, then said to the guards who dared not move, “All of you withdraw and let them go!”

Wan Shi cried out, “No! This person attempted to assassinate the Governor—absolutely cannot let her leave!”

Li Jiancheng said through clenched teeth, “But if we don’t let her go, second brother will be in danger. I cannot let anything happen to second brother!” Fire danced in his eyes as he stared at Wan Shi. He had always known that Wan Shi didn’t like to see their brothers, because these legitimate sons blocked her son’s path. But he never expected that at such a time, she would want to push Li Shimin to his death—truly vicious!

Wan Shi said sternly, “So you’ll just let the person who assassinated your father leave this residence?”

“I’ll find a way to capture her!” After saying this, he repeated, “All withdraw!”

“No!” Wan Shi said without yielding, “This person absolutely cannot be released. Furthermore, who knows if she’ll take the opportunity to kill Second Young Master once she escapes? This person infiltrated the palace to assassinate the Governor—clearly someone who bears deep hatred against our Li clan. How can we trust the words of such a person?”

Li Jiancheng suppressed his anger and said, “Then according to Second Mother’s meaning, we should just let something happen to second brother?”

“When did I ever say such a thing?” Speaking thus, she said to the guards, “Immediately capture this woman and rescue Second Young Master. You must not let her harm Second Young Master.”

Although Wan Shi kept saying she wanted to save Li Shimin, if conflict truly erupted, Li Shimin would die before the guards could rescue him. Rather than rescue, it was more like using someone else’s blade to kill!

“Don’t move!” Li Jiancheng and Li Xuanba spoke to stop them together. Aside from Li Yuan who was unconscious from poisoning, only these two truly cared about Li Shimin’s life or death. The former even seized a blade from a nearby guard and limped to the center of the hall, pointing it at Wan Shi from afar, “In any case, before second brother is safe, no one is permitted to touch this woman, or don’t blame me for being impolite—including you!”

Wan Shi’s eyebrows stood on end as she said coldly, “I am your stepmother—how dare you speak to me this way!”

Li Jiancheng didn’t speak, nor did he lower the blade pointing at her, showing his firm resolve. Wan Shi bit her silver teeth tightly, “Fine, since it’s like this, I won’t interfere in this matter. However, when the Governor awakens, I will truthfully report this matter to him!”

Li Jiancheng only responded to her threat with cold laughter. Though father favored Wan Shi and let her manage the residence’s affairs, in father’s heart, the person he loved most had always been mother. Wan Shi could never hope to compare with mother in her entire life.

As for today’s events, not only did he never intend to actually release Yunyi, but even if he truly did, father wouldn’t blame him harshly after learning of it.

With Li Jiancheng’s words, the guards slowly retreated. Yunyi then took Li Shimin hostage and walked toward the nearest door. Continuing to remain in the Governor’s residence, she would be like a bird caged—with only a dead end. Only by leaving this place could she have a path to survival.

She walked in front while Li Jiancheng and others followed behind with the guards. As for Li Xuanba, due to severe poisoning, he remained at Songtao Residence for the physician’s treatment. When they reached the door, Yunyi stopped and said, “Immediately prepare a fast horse for me!”

“Fine, I’ll fulfill all your demands, just don’t harm second brother.” After saying this, Li Jiancheng called over a personal servant, “Immediately go prepare a horse.” As the servant bowed in agreement, he quickly whispered something in his ear. The latter nodded imperceptibly and left quickly.

While waiting for the servant to prepare the horse, both sides maintained a silent standoff. After waiting about half an hour, the servant finally led a horse over. Li Jiancheng hadn’t deceived Yunyi—what he brought was quite a spirited white horse.

After the servant withdrew, Yunyi took Li Shimin hostage to the horse and shouted, “Mount up.”

Li Jiancheng’s expression changed as he said coldly, “You just said that as long as I let you leave, you would release second brother. Why are you going back on your word now?”

“I’m not going back on my word, but now…” Yunyi sneered, “I’m afraid that as soon as I release Second Young Master, you’ll want my life, so… I’m not safe!”

After forcing Li Shimin onto the horse, she also mounted, keeping the blade at Li Shimin’s throat without moving it away. “Don’t follow me. As long as I leave Chang’an City, I’ll naturally return Second Young Master. But if you don’t listen to my instructions, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“But who knows if you’ll truly release second brother? What if it’s as Second Mother said?” While speaking, Li Jiancheng quickly glanced at the high walls on both sides.

Yunyi didn’t notice this subtle movement and said coldly, “I can’t give you any guarantee. It depends on whether you’re willing to take this gamble. Well, have you decided?”

“It seems there’s no other choice. Since it’s like this…” Speaking to this point, Li Jiancheng’s voice became sharp as he suddenly said, “Attack!”

Hearing these last two words, Yunyi realized something was wrong, but it was too late. A sharp arrow broke through the air, aimed directly at her forehead. Fortunately, she turned her head in time. The arrow grazed her cheek as it flew past, leaving a mark but fortunately not injuring the skin beneath.