The earlier deep, rough voice interrupted him: “I am Miao Feng Xian, second son of the Yao King. While on a diplomatic mission to Great Jin, we encountered an ambush. I wish to borrow a young lady’s carriage to take me into Caixing City—absolutely, absolutely no ill intentions!”

Feng Miao Jun let out a light rebuke: “Stop the carriage!”

The coachman, already uncertain and fearful, immediately pulled the horses to a halt upon hearing the command.

The two men jumped down, one of them swaying as he landed, clearly unable to support himself. The other quickly steadied him.

The moonlight wasn’t particularly bright at this moment, but it was enough for her to see clearly. Both were sturdy men with wounds on their bodies. The one being supported had fresh blood flowing from his chest and lower abdomen—the “young lord.” The other was dressed as a guard.

She could see that the man’s wounds had flesh turned outward, truly horrific. It was clear that both men’s injuries weren’t feigned, which reassured her further.

Chen Da Chang stepped forward cautiously.

The two men also knew that catching this convenient ride wouldn’t be easy, so they reluctantly handed over their weapons. They were both injured, and this Chen Da Chang seemed somewhat troublesome—to subdue him would likely require considerable effort.

Yet time was precisely what they lacked most right now.

Chen Da Chang accepted the weapons and then wiggled his fingers.

The guard rolled his eyes, pulled a dagger from his boot shaft, and handed it over with obvious reluctance.

Feng Miao Jun opened the carriage door: “The severely wounded one comes in, and the lightly wounded goes to the front. Da Chang, you go to the front too.”

Chen Da Chang exclaimed in alarm: “Young Miss!” No matter how severely wounded, the stranger was still a grown man who could pose a threat to her.

Feng Miao Jun waved her hand: “Hurry up.” She had never killed anyone, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t fought before. Xu Feng Nian was her good sparring partner.

Seeing his master nod, the guard quickly helped him into the carriage, closed the door, and went to the front, squeezing onto the coachman’s seat with Chen Da Chang.

With the clatter of hooves, the carriage began moving again.

Feng Miao Jun reached out to light the bronze lamp on the small table, and the two sitting across from each other finally saw each other.

The man opposite her was tall and broad—upon sitting down, he nearly filled the entire carriage. He appeared young, with firm facial features, slightly thick lips, a somewhat aquiline nose, and a complexion pale from blood loss.

As the light brightened, he gazed at her, slightly dazed.

Earlier, he had only seen a white-robed figure, knowing vaguely that she was a slender young woman. How could he have known she would be so beautiful?

This young woman had a bare face, her thick, beautiful hair simply fastened with a wooden hairpin. Her eyebrows were fine and curved, her phoenix eyes long and spiritual, her jade-like nose exquisite, her chin slightly pointed. The yellowish lamplight danced on her face and neck, highlighting skin as smooth as milk, while trembling in her bright, rippling gaze. Even as she sat there, neither speaking nor smiling, her eyes alone carried extraordinary charm.

Yet she was not at all frivolous. That cool, calm gaze seemed to penetrate straight to one’s soul, making it clear that this beauty was not to be trifled with.

This woman was like a night-blooming cereus in the darkness, possessing an extravagant, fragrant beauty beyond her years, yet disdaining others’ attention and admiration. With her presence, even the dim carriage seemed to brighten.

Did Jin country only produce beauties? He had randomly boarded a carriage speeding through the night, yet encountered such a lovely woman. Although she looked quite young—if she grew up further, becoming a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms was a certainty.

While he was lost in thought, Feng Miao Jun frowned at the heavy smell of blood in the carriage. She could see that his wounds were deep and severe, like an unstoppable faucet—fresh blood had soaked the couch leather: “Second Prince of Yao?”

“Yes, I…”

Feng Miao Jun retrieved medicine for wounds and cloth rolls from under the seat, placing them on the small table: “Who’s hunting you?”

He accepted them, not stopping to wonder why a young beauty’s carriage would be equipped with such things: “It should be Wei country. They want to prevent me from signing an alliance with Jin.” The two most serious wounds were difficult for him to treat himself. He glanced at Feng Miao Jun, knowing the young lady wouldn’t help him, and said, “Excuse me,” before tearing open his clothes and struggling to bandage himself.

Miao Feng Xian exposed his upper body, displaying well-defined muscles. Feng Miao Jun’s gaze swept over him without avoidance, staring at his wounds for quite some time until he felt embarrassed: “Are your pursuers many?” The wounds on his chest and lower abdomen were not made by the same weapon, and the blood flowing from other cuts appeared slightly blackish—he had been poisoned. She casually took out a bottle of medicine pills and placed it on the table. “Poison-dispelling pills.”

Miao Feng Xian had also noticed the poison in his wounds and stared at the medicine bottle in surprise, not understanding why she would have antidote pills ready. He hesitated momentarily.

Little did he know that Feng Miao Jun lived in constant vigilance. From distant Yunyai to the nearby Prime Minister’s mansion and other powerful nobles, even the Jin King posed threats to her. She didn’t want to be as helpless as during the lake shark incident.

Feng Miao Jun noticed his doubt: “If you don’t use it, you’ll die from the poison within half an hour.”

They had actively sought out this carriage, and only after crossing several mountain peaks. If enemies were setting a trap, they couldn’t possibly be this coincidentally prepared. Miao Feng Xian thought for a moment, then said apologetically: “Thank you.” He took the medicine and swallowed it, then tossed the bottle to his guard in the front seat, telling him to take the antidote as well.

“There were seven or eight pursuers. We scattered and cut down five in the mountains, but only two of us remain.” He managed to bandage his abdominal wound but couldn’t attend to his chest. Feng Miao Jun looked and suddenly called out: “You in front, come in.”

The guard had been hoping for this and immediately jumped inside, quickly tending to his wound. Miao Feng Xian grinned: “You’re not afraid of me anymore?”

Feng Miao Jun gave him a sidelong glance: “I’m afraid trouble will follow you. I really should have sent you away.” She didn’t want to invite such problems, but Miao Feng Xian was a prince of Yao country. If he survived the pursuit and complained about her to the Jin King, it would be troublesome.

Hmm, she hadn’t mentioned her name, but the Jin King knew of her outstanding appearance and knew she often returned from Yanhai Tower, taking this route. It wouldn’t be difficult to connect her to this incident…

Never mind, this wasn’t the time to regret her misfortune. She needed to heal him quickly—even if he couldn’t be counted as a fighting force later, at least he wouldn’t drag her down.

The guard said softly: “We should have lost them.”

“We’re less than fifteen li from Jin’s city gates.” Feng Miao Jun shook her head. “To dare act here, they must be thoroughly prepared.”

This was the capital of Jin’s country. She had just come down from the mountain path, and ahead lay open flatlands. After seven li, they would enter the official road where carriages and horses traveled day and night without ceasing. If they could make it there, they would be safe.

Miao Feng Xian silently thought “shameful.” Throughout the journey, he had remained tense, but with Jin’s capital in sight, he had inevitably relaxed slightly. Who would have thought the ambush would be set precisely here?

“May I ask the young lady’s gracious…”

Before the final word “name” could leave his mouth, the carriage suddenly jolted violently as if pulled by an external force, abruptly tilting.

The carriage was speeding at high velocity, and this forced imbalance caused it to flip sideways. With a thunderous crash, the carriage compartment scraped along the ground for twenty zhang (over sixty meters) before finally coming to a stop amid the tragic neighing of the horses.