The cold wind whistled, and the withered trees swayed.
Ye Luan's face was pale as she desperately fled from the bamboo forest.
Her abdomen was bleeding, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.
The guards behind her pursued relentlessly, with firelight everywhere.
She gritted her teeth, looking around, and quickly covered her wound before rushing behind a nearby rockery, ensuring she left no bloodstains, then ducked inside.
"Search, that way--"
The sounds of pursuit echoed from outside. Ye Luan held her breath, pressing herself against the rockery, afraid to move.
This was truly terrible luck.
After leaving that room, she had planned to go to the Imperial Garden. But before she could even round the winding corridors, someone had suddenly appeared, covering her mouth and nose and knocking her unconscious.
When she woke up, she was being carried somewhere. Alarmed, she immediately pulled out her knife and dealt with the two guards before fleeing in a hurry.
However, she hadn't run far before being relentlessly pursued by a group of guards. During the struggle, she was accidentally stabbed.
What a disaster.
Ye Luan leaned weakly against the stone wall, blood trickling from the corners of her crimson lips.
She wiped the blood from her mouth and carefully recalled what had just happened. A flash of insight struck her.
The guards were well-trained, their attacks fierce, and they could move freely within the palace. They must be palace personnel.
She had only recently entered the palace and had only offended Xuan Le, no one else.
Therefore, her pursuers were either Xuan Le, or Xie Bei Han's enemies, wanting to use her to deal with Xie Bei Han?
Damn it.
She knew this palace was full of trouble.
Ye Luan muttered to herself, finally letting out a sigh of relief when she no longer heard the chaotic footsteps outside.
She covered her wound and turned to leave.
"So you were hiding here."
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from her right rear.
Ye Luan startled and turned back.
She saw Xuan Le approaching with a sinister smile, two guards following behind her.
"It's been quite a journey, I've been looking for you for a long time."
"What does Princess want with me?"
Ye Luan straightened up calmly, her hand hidden in her sleeve gripping her knife tightly.
She carefully observed the attire of the guards behind Xuan Le, narrowing her eyes slightly. They were not the same group as the previous ones.
Xuan Le sneered, "Naturally, to kill you."
Only when this woman died would the Prince love her, and the Crown Prince would not marry such a slut as his concubine.
"Kill me?" Ye Luan deliberately stalled for time, smiling faintly, "The harem is filled with the Crown Prince's spies. Do you think killing me will escape his notice?"
Xuan Le was provoked by her words, her expression darkening.
"Princess, I have no enmity with you. You admire the Prince of Ding Bei. Why not focus your efforts on him? There's no need to kill me and offend the Crown Prince, is there?"
She was injured, and the two guards behind Xuan Le appeared to be highly skilled. She feared she couldn't defeat them.
"You dislike me. I will leave Yan Jing in a few days and will not return to Da Liang. I don't concern you in any way, do I?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Le frowned, "Are you deceiving me?"
"Not at all. The Crown Prince is merely using me to shield his beloved from arrows. As for the Prince of Ding Bei, he purely wants me dead; it's all an act."
Xuan Le looked at her face, malice flashing in her eyes.
She simply found this woman unpleasant to look at. But if she killed her, and if her brother, the Crown Prince, found out she was involved and had taken action, he would surely kill her.
However, if she ruined her reputation, how could the Crown Prince still marry her? The Prince would also scorn her. This would be more satisfying than killing her.
Her brother, the Crown Prince, likely wouldn't make a move against her for a woman who had lost her virtue.
With this thought, Xuan Le felt an overwhelming excitement.
"Go, capture her."
Ye Luan gritted her teeth, her pale face turning even paler. Seeing the man approaching with a sword, she immediately swung her own to parry the incoming attack.
But she was injured, and her martial arts were no match for these two. After only a few exchanges, her shoulder was seized.
A cold blade was pressed against her neck. Her abdomen was bleeding profusely, and the pain made it difficult to stand.
Seeing her captured, Xuan Le smiled venomously, crossing her arms.
"You've bled so much, even if I don't kill you, you won't survive, right?"
Ye Luan's eyes were cold, and she bit her lip tightly, refusing to faint.
"Actually, even if I killed you, the Crown Prince wouldn't suspect me. He would only investigate Prince Su."
So, the group from earlier was Prince Su's people, and Prince Su wanted to kill her!
This is unbelievable.
Who is this person that suddenly appeared?
"However, this princess, to be safe, will not kill you. If I ruin your reputation, even if my brother the Crown Prince knows I was involved, he won't act against me for a woman who has lost her virtue, right? Hahaha--"
Blood spilled from Ye Luan's mouth. She spoke coldly, feigning conversation while also buying time.
"How did you know Prince Su wanted to kill me?"
If Prince Su's people had wanted to kill her, there would have been many opportunities. They could have killed her while she was unconscious. Why bring her to such a remote place?
Yes, where the hell had he brought her? This place was so desolate, with nothing around.
Damn Xie Bei Han, why hasn't he come looking for me yet?!
"Prince Su is Fourth Brother's subordinate, naturally he wants to use you to control the Crown Prince."
After speaking, Xuan Le lost interest in further conversation, pulled out a medicinal bottle, and slowly walked over, saying with a venomous smile.
"This princess will bring people later to see how lowly and slutty you are."
Her cheeks were roughly pinched, and the powder was forced down her throat.
Ye Luan's eyes sharpened. Taking advantage of their lapse in vigilance, the hidden weapon in her hand flew out with a swish, striking the Shangyang acupoints of the two guards.
"Ah--"
Xuan Le was shocked by this display and retreated.
Ye Luan swiftly picked up the knife from the ground and fiercely stabbed it into the guards' eyes. The two men immediately cried out in pain and fell to the ground. However, they were too quick, and one of them lunged to capture her.
A strong killing intent washed over her. Ye Luan endured the pain, using the knife to stab directly into the hearts of the two men. Blood splattered all over her face.
Yet, her expression was chillingly indifferent.
"Guards, guards--"
Xuan Le cried out in alarm and tried to flee.
Ye Luan activated a hidden mechanism, firing it directly at Xuan Le's back, causing the latter to shriek in pain.
Just as she was about to deliver a finishing blow, she heard approaching footsteps. Her eyes darkened, and she quickly fled along the other side of the rockery.
She ran with great difficulty, feeling a burning heat all over her body. A fierce energy surged through her limbs, causing unbearable throbbing and discomfort.
Damn it.
She had been drugged with an aphrodisiac.
After running for an unknown amount of time, Ye Luan felt she could barely hold on. Her head spun with dizziness, and the heat within her body made her want to rip off her clothes.
She bit her lip fiercely, refusing to lose control, staggering as she went.
In the dim night, it seemed guards were pursuing her again from behind. She didn't look back, cursing inwardly, and dragged her almost enfeebled body, running with all her might.
"Ye Luan!"