HomeLove like the GalaxyChapter 151: Ultimately Unable to Escape

Chapter 151: Ultimately Unable to Escape

Hearing this voice, two of the four men wanted to turn and change direction. The Crown Prince also didn’t wish to see his sworn brother entangled with his former fiancée again, but he (in his own estimation) was a true warrior who dared to face the bleakness of life and matchmaking. So he gathered his energy in his lower abdomen and strode toward the palace gate with large steps. Yuan Shen followed with a bitter smile, then came Huo Buyi whose body trembled slightly, and finally Luo Jitong with an unsightly expression.

Outside the Upper West Gate’s palace entrance was a vast, open expanse of ground. When the palace held large celebratory banquets, it could accommodate the carriages of meritorious nobles and court officials’ family members. The Crown Prince had initially wanted to reprimand the palace gate guards for their negligence, but upon rushing out the gate, he discovered that the guards had actually secured the entrance properly—they had simply all stretched out their necks, grinning gleefully as they watched the spectacle. Sharing the same spectator expressions were the drunkenly giggling Fourth Prince, along with the Fourth Prince’s consort and Second Prince who supported him.

Not far ahead stood a carriage with an indigo-blue canopy. A beautiful young woman in neat casual attire stood on the carriage, while below was a clear-eyed handsome youth, each hand leading a horse. Six or seven zhang in front of the carriage, over a dozen well-trained household guards jointly held a sturdy hemp rope net, inside which was trapped a burly, bearded man.

Shaoshang’s face glowed with satisfaction as she declared triumphantly: “…You truly thought you could rank among the heroes in the ‘Biographies of Assassins’! Let me tell you, the only reason you’ve escaped repeatedly is because Governor Yuan has been lenient with you! That day at the Yuan residence when you glared at me, I knew this day would come!”

The Second Prince frowned. “Since this person has repeatedly caused trouble, to prevent any mishap, why not send him to the Court of Judicial Review or have him killed…”

“No, no, Second Prince.” Shaoshang hastily said, “This person isn’t actually bad. I’ve already asked around—all these years he could have assassinated Governor Yuan in the crowded, chaotic marketplace, but he feared disturbing or accidentally harming common people, so he always chose mountain roads and wilderness to strike. This time too, he could have set an ambush along my route, but instead he chose the palace gate where there aren’t many idle people… In his youth, Fifth Cheng was a famous chivalrous hero who acted righteously and did good deeds. He’s just become obsessed now.”

Hearing these words, Fifth Cheng stopped struggling and called out loudly: “Good! Just for these words from you, Miss Cheng, I won’t trouble you anymore in the future…”

“Bah! Still talking about the future? Do you think I’m Governor Yuan, catching and releasing you repeatedly? You’re in my hands now—do you think you have a future?!” Shaoshang placed her hands on her hips, her aura magnificent.

“Then what do you intend to do?!” Fifth Cheng’s face flushed red with anger.

“Capture you and take you back, reason with you and appeal to your emotions, of course.” Shaoshang said. “To prevent you from making bigger and bigger mistakes, to uphold human justice, to promote the righteous spirit of heaven and earth…”

Fifth Cheng was incensed: “You’re spouting nonsense!”

Shaoshang retorted: “I thought you still resembled a person originally, but now you’re becoming less and less presentable. If no one stops you, you won’t be far from becoming an evil demon! The grievances are between the Yuan family and you—why are you capturing me? Do I have the surname Yuan? Do I? Even if I take the surname Yuan in the future, when your sister had her incident, I hadn’t even been born yet! Was it worth dragging me into this?!”

—The Crown Prince couldn’t help but look at Yuan Shen, finding his expression truly spectacular.

The Second Prince laughed. “Enough, stop showing off your sharp tongue. Hurry and take him away. This is still the palace gate after all—if this gets out of hand, you won’t be able to protect this person.”

Shaoshang smiled and cupped her fists: “Many thanks to the Second Prince for your tolerance!”

That Fifth Cheng continued cursing furiously. One household guard laughed and asked: “Young mistress, should we gag his mouth?”

Shaoshang replied: “What’s the point of gagging? He’s a great hero of his generation—gagging would be so undignified. Just knock him unconscious instead!”

The household guards laughingly complied with her words, and the palace gate guards all laughed aloud together. Shaoshang frequently entered and exited the palace, so everyone had become familiar with her. Several people even heckled, shouting ‘Lady Cheng is mighty!’ and ‘Lady Cheng is a heroine among women!’ Even the Second Prince and Fourth Prince’s consort couldn’t help but smile.

—The Crown Prince looked again at Huo Buyi and discovered that those deep amber-brown eyes revealed a peculiar joyful expression—greedy yet restrained, so profoundly intense it was somewhat unnerving.

Cheng Shaogong led over two horses, one yellow and one piebald, and said helplessly to his younger sister: “Have you made enough of a scene? Had your fun? Can we go home now? Will you ride or take the carriage?”

Shaoshang leaped down from the carriage, full of spirit: “What carriage would a heroine like me take? Third Brother, give me Aniu.” Aniu was her beloved little piebald horse with cow-like spots.

Just then, the drunk Fourth Prince pointed at the palace gate entrance and shouted: “Third Imperial Brother, you’ve arrived…”

Everyone turned to see the Crown Prince’s party of several men and performed salutations according to their respective ranks.

Shaoshang’s heart pounded as she rose trembling. Finally, she saw that tall, imposing figure beside the Crown Prince. She felt inexplicably flustered and uneasy—wasn’t he supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow? She had even planned to request leave to avoid him.

“What are you all doing?” The Crown Prince shouted sternly with a rigid face.

“I, I… this concubine…” Shaoshang was at a loss. She instinctively felt that if she explained everything in detail, the Crown Prince would definitely not let Fifth Cheng go, but if she didn’t explain, how could she account for this scene?

Yuan Shen also thought of this point. However, he didn’t care about Fifth Cheng’s life or death, so he stepped forward, planning to reveal the Yuan family’s old grievances in full. Who knew the Second Prince would speak first.

“Crown Prince.” The Second Prince, mindful of Shaoshang’s years of paying respects at his late wife’s grave, spoke up to help. “Lady Cheng was just planning to go home.”

The Crown Prince saw the pleading look in the Second Prince’s eyes. Thinking that further entanglement would only create more trouble, he decided not to pursue that nameless nobody surnamed Fifth. Seeing this, Yuan Shen also stepped back.

Cheng Shaogong, as if grasping a lifeline, repeatedly said: “Right, right, exactly. We’re going home. Shaoshang, quickly mount your horse.”

Shaoshang chimed in: “Yes, yes, we’re leaving right now… Third Brother, the horse?”

She felt the burning gaze of the person beside the Crown Prince, staring at her without blinking. She hastily took the reins that her equally flustered twin brother handed over and scrambled onto the horse’s back using both hands and feet. But as soon as she settled into the saddle, she silently cried ‘not good’—beneath the saddle was tawny, supple horse mane. She had mounted the wrong horse!

Just then, Cheng Shaogong also discovered he had mistakenly handed over his own horse’s reins. The siblings stared at each other.

They say twins share a psychic connection, but this pair from the Cheng family predictably disagreed once again. Cheng Shaogong thought they should switch back, but Shaoshang wished she could sprout wings and leave this place immediately—how could she be willing to dismount?

Cheng Shaogong finally understood his twin sister’s throat-slitting glare. Thinking of that former brother-in-law behind them, he indicated agreement with his eyelids and began to pull the piebald horse’s reins.

“Wait—!” Suddenly a clear, bright male voice rang out, adding fuel to this already boiling situation.

Everyone with their various thoughts looked toward the speaker, each revealing deeply meaningful expressions that could be summarized into roughly three types: ‘There’s a good show to watch,’ ‘Could old feelings be rekindling,’ ‘The Crown Prince and Young Master Yuan’s eyes are about to pop out…’!

Huo Buyi firmly stepped forward: “Cheng… Shaoshang… please wait.”

The scene suddenly震动ed. Everyone was shocked. The Crown Prince and Yuan Shen’s hair stood on end, while Luo Jitong gasped softly ‘General Huo.’

Huo Buyi paid no attention to everyone’s thoughts and continued walking forward. Each step was like the震动 of Mount Buzhou. Everyone’s expressions gradually shifted from watching a spectacle to showing concern, but he still walked forward unwaveringly, toward that dazzling girl with bright eyes and white teeth.

The distance was only about twenty-some steps, yet in everyone’s momentary trance, Huo Buyi had already reached Shaoshang’s horse.

Shaoshang’s entire body froze on the saddle. For some reason, she felt her center of gravity was unstable and her whole body swayed. Seeing the person before her, before she could speak, Huo Buyi had already extended his right palm to support the girl’s slender waist and gently pushed upward.

Only then did Shaoshang realize what the problem was. Although Cheng Shaogong appeared frail and scholarly, he was still male after all, with legs a good bit longer than his twin sister’s. So sitting in his saddle, her feet dangled emptily, unable to reach the stirrups.

Seeing Huo Buyi’s action, everyone in the venue let out a collective gasp. Yuan Shen’s face became ice-cold, his upright body like an icicle. Luo Jitong broke out in cold sweat, hesitating whether he should walk over.

The Crown Prince stepped forward several paces in his agitation, then stopped. He didn’t know what to say either, and could only force out a gentle tone—”Zicheng, do you still remember what you just said?”

Luo Jitong also looked at him hopefully.

Huo Buyi didn’t respond. Beside them, the Fourth Prince asked foolishly: “Third Imperial Brother, what did Zicheng just say? Oh, I know—after we left, Father Emperor had a private conversation with you again…”

“Shut up!” The Crown Prince forcefully waved his sleeve.

Huo Buyi looked at the soft waist beneath his palm—still slender enough to encircle with one hand. He could encompass most of it with his spread fingers.

He raised his head to look. Women of noble status in the deep palace had time frozen for them. Five years had passed without meeting, yet she still had skin like congealed fat, jade-like brows and vermillion lips, youthful radiance and tender delicacy, like a carefree little girl who had just fluttered out of her warm family nest on soft wings, only to see the scenery outside.

He still remembered that cold, fierce killing night, the wild wind howling, as she pounded him chaotically through her tears, as if pouring out all the grievances and resentments of her life… Since that parting, through flowing starlight and rivers of time, five hurried years had passed.

“Let me adjust the stirrup strap for you.” He said softly—though daylight was bright, he felt as if in a dream.

Shaoshang also felt this scene was dreamlike and illusory. When awake, she never recalled the past; only in dreams did occasional fragments of bygone days scatter down like fleeting shadows.

She remembered that year he wore dark gold and scarlet robes like rolling blood, peerless in elegance. But now he wore only an old dark robe, without weaving or embroidery, bearing the marks of wind and frost, with silver threads glinting at his temples—coldly and handsomely beautiful in a way that made one’s heart ache.

At least fifty or sixty people had gathered around them. Now there was complete silence—from the Crown Prince, shocked with eyes wide open, to Yuan Shen, trembling all over with anger yet uncertain whether to curse or fight, along with everyone else—all stared blankly as events unfolded.

Shaoshang felt short of breath and tightness in her chest. Steadying herself, she finally said: “General… General Huo, please, there’s no need…”

Huo Buyi had already refastened one stirrup and was grasping the girl’s ankle to place it in the stirrup when, hearing her words, he raised his head and slowly tightened his grip, squeezing that delicate, exquisite ankle bone.

“Now, am I not even worthy of adjusting your stirrups?” He looked deeply at her.

Cheng Shaogong beside them gaped, screaming frantically in his heart—That’s not how things are done! What kind of former fiancé comes up and touches waists, squeezes feet, and fastens stirrups at the slightest disagreement?!

But Shaoshang caught sight of his hand’s back—pale skin covered with several mottled, gruesome scars. She said trembling: “What happened to your hand…”

Huo Buyi lowered his thick lashes and said softly: “Frostbite. Later it festered. Now it’s scarred over. It’s healed.”

Shaoshang glared fiercely at those scars, biting her lip hard.

Huo Buyi stared at her blankly: “Won’t you ask if it hurt?”

Shaoshang nearly bit her lip bloody. She stubbornly shook her head forcefully, and finally said: “General Huo, I need to go home. Please step aside.”

Huo Buyi held her reins: “The other stirrup isn’t adjusted yet.”

Shaoshang forcefully pulled back the reins with a cold laugh: “I’m not the same person I was before. Now even without stirrups, I won’t be afraid anymore!” Finishing these words, she raised her riding whip high and skillfully flicked it in the air once. The yellow-maned horse immediately galloped away.

The girl’s movements were free and spirited, though in Cheng Shaogong’s eyes, they carried a distinct flavor of fleeing in panic. Huo Buyi unconsciously stepped forward, when suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder from behind. Turning to look, it was Yuan Shen.

Yuan Shen said coldly: “Thank you, General Huo, for looking after my wife. Let it end here.”

Without waiting for a response, he went straight into the Cheng family carriage and leaned against the door saying, “Shaogong, I happen to be free today, so I’ll go home with you.” Then, right in front of Huo Buyi, he heavily closed the carriage door.

Cheng Shaogong smiled awkwardly at Huo Buyi, somewhat embarrassedly climbing onto the piebald horse and leading the equally silent and dejected Cheng household guards plus the unconscious Fifth Cheng in a puff of smoke.

Huo Buyi watched the departing Cheng family carriage and horses for a while, then turned wordlessly, briefly cupped his fists to bid farewell to the Crown Prince, waved away the approaching Dark Iron carriage, seized the reins from an attendant’s hands, mounted the horse and rode swiftly in another direction.

Luo Jitong, seeing that Huo Buyi didn’t even remember him before leaving, could only forcibly endure his embarrassment, bow to the Crown Prince in farewell, and return home on his own.

The palace guards, seeing the show had ended and fearing the stern-faced Crown Prince would make an example of them, all returned to their posts.

The Second Prince saw the Crown Prince still standing motionless, his expression less solemn and severe than… dazed?

“Third Brother, Third Brother?” The Second Prince pushed the Crown Prince. “What’s wrong with you?”

The Fourth Prince, now half-sobered from his drunkenness, also came over: “Imperial Brother, Third Imperial Brother, what’s wrong…”

The Crown Prince suddenly jolted awake, then made an abrupt turn and ran with all his might, followed by a long line of eunuchs and palace maids who had just reacted.

“Third Imperial Brother, where are you going?!” The Fourth Prince shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I’m going to find Father!” The Crown Prince shouted back—Father, how is this different from what we agreed upon?!

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