Old Madam Qi watched as Qi Yuan got into the carriage. Even though they had done this countless times before, this time her heart still pounded wildly with fear. She couldn’t help but press her palms together and silently chant a prayer to Buddha.
Praying that Buddha would protect Qi Yuan and let everything go smoothly.
The more time one spent with Qi Yuan, the more one realized the soft heart hidden beneath her sharp, cold exterior.
She never showed mercy to those who hurt her, but to those she cared about, she gave her wholehearted attention and protection.
Even if it weren’t for Qi Yuan’s extraordinary abilities, Old Madam Qi had already, perhaps unconsciously, come to truly love this granddaughter.
Second Madam Qi didn’t know exactly what was going on, but she vaguely sensed that something big was about to happen.
Supporting Old Madam Qi as they walked back inside, she whispered, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ve never seen a girl more capable than Ah Yuan. No matter what she sets her mind to, she always succeeds.”
Second Madam Qi wasn’t lying. She had truly never seen anyone as determined and persistent as Qi Yuan.
As long as she was still breathing, if Qi Yuan wanted something done, she would make it happen.
With that kind of willpower, there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.
Old Madam Qi gently patted the back of her hand. “Let’s hope so.”
The moment Qi Yuan sat inside the carriage, she immediately sensed something was wrong.
There was someone inside.
Without hesitation, she braced her hands against the floor, swung her leg, and kicked toward the corner of the carriage. But in that instant, her ankle was grabbed by someone.
Still, she didn’t pause for even half a second. Her body flipped midair, and a dagger appeared in her hand, aiming straight for the intruder’s neck—until a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
“It’s me!”
Xiao Yunting.
Qi Yuan frowned, kicked her ankle free from his grip, and sat down in her seat. “Your Highness, what are you doing here?”
Xiao Yunting was both exasperated and amused by her reaction. “Qi Yuan, could you show a little conscience? If it weren’t for me, do you really think Lai Chenglong would dare get involved in something that could cost the heads of nine generations?”
Babao had come back earlier, complaining endlessly about how Qi Yuan was burning the bridge after crossing it.
To be fair, even Xiao Yunting himself felt that Qi Yuan was indeed being a bit ungrateful.
But what could he do?
If love couldn’t be reciprocated, then whoever loved more was bound to suffer more. If that person was him—so be it. At least Qi Yuan hadn’t yet learned what heartbreak truly felt like.
Qi Yuan wasn’t particularly moved. Curling her lips slightly, she said, “I believe the conditions I offered Lord Lai were generous enough. Even without Your Highness’s influence, it would be hard for him to refuse the temptation of a clan genealogy with a separate page for his family.”
Xiao Yunting sighed.
Whenever he was in front of Qi Yuan, he always felt awkward and at a loss for words.
Since he couldn’t win verbally, he simply stopped trying. “With me here, just think of it as having an extra helper.”
Afraid she wouldn’t accept it, he added after a pause, “I’m pretty decent at martial arts. At the very least, I won’t be a burden.”
Pretty decent?
Qi Yuan knew perfectly well that Xiao Yunting’s martial arts weren’t just decent—they were top-tier.
But this matter, after all, involved the interests of two nations. While the likelihood of something going wrong was small, what if?
There were many things in this world that couldn’t afford a single “what if.”
That was exactly why she had sent Babao back earlier—to tell Xiao Yunting not to get involved.
But he came anyway.
Since they had already come, driving them away now would be unrealistic—and would only make her seem petty. So Qi Yuan simply let it be, lowering her head as she silently calculated where those people would strike if they were going to.
Logically, it would be on the road down the mountain.
That stretch was forested and rugged—perfect for an ambush.
As she was thinking this, the carriage jolted—it had passed through the mountain gate and was now beginning to descend.
Qi Yuan mentally measured the distance. She knew that this winding mountain path had three bends, and that no matter what, both sides of the road at those curves were ideal for making a move.
In her previous life, when Xiao Yunting had been assigned to oversee the navy, she had also dealt with Wokou pirates.
She was all too familiar with the methods of these people.
As long as they could achieve their goal, they had no regard for human decency.
Just as she was thinking this, the first bend passed without incident. The carriage jolted again and began turning into the second bend.
Almost at that exact moment, Xiao Yunting and Qi Yuan exchanged a glance. Without a word, they simultaneously extinguished the carriage lantern and leapt out the carriage windows one after another.
It all happened in a matter of seconds.
The horse neighed violently and reared, then broke free of its reins and bolted forward in a frenzy. It only ran a short distance before veering off the narrow path and plunging into a mountain ravine, disappearing without a trace.
The ravine was full of jagged rocks and rapid water—falling in was practically a death sentence.
Huailiang Qin Wang watched with his own eyes as the carriage tumbled off the cliff. His voice carried unmistakable satisfaction: “She was just a woman. Killing her is easier than killing an ant.”
He had actually come here himself to set up an ambush—he was really taking her too seriously.
In the pitch-black night, the sky was scattered with stars, and the lights of Huangjue Temple at the mountain’s summit glowed faintly. The half-moon illuminated everything in a pale, ghostly white.
Huailiang Qin Wang emerged from the underbrush and ordered his men, “Follow the road down. I want her alive or her corpse.”
The Japanese prided themselves on their honor. Since they had promised to help Princess Baorong kill her, they would see it through without compromise.
At his command, four or five samurai with swords at their waists started descending the mountain path.
Huailiang Qin Wang glanced up at the moon and muttered gloomily, “I wonder if I’ll make it back to my homeland before March, to see my hometown’s moon, to admire the cherry blossoms there.”
“Probably not,” a light, mocking voice drifted down from overhead, “Better save that for your next life.”
The moment the voice rang out, Huailiang Qin Wang felt a chill crawl up his scalp.
He instinctively looked up but saw only the eerie silhouettes of tree branches, pitch black and twisting above him.
The wind stirred, and the shadows swayed, making the place feel all the more ghostly.
Even Huailiang Qin Wang couldn’t stop the goosebumps crawling over his skin. He instinctively drew his katana and assumed a defensive stance, shouting harshly, “Who’s there?! Who’s playing tricks?!”
After all, this was the Great Zhou’s territory. Committing murder here, he couldn’t bring too many men. It had taken him a great deal of effort just to slip away from the Court of State Ceremonial’s guest residence.
And the number of men he brought with him was limited.
Now, a third of them had already gone down the ravine in search of the carriage.
Only a handful remained at his side.
Almost the moment he shouted, a samurai to his left suddenly cried out.
Huailiang Qin Wang turned his head—but before he could even make out what was happening, he was already splattered full in the face with blood.
In this freezing weather, the blood was scaldingly hot. Yet when it hit his face, it made him feel as though he had gone ice-cold all over.
Someone had been killed—
And it was one of his own men.
