Xie Beihan rode back to the City Lord’s mansion after leaving the military camp.
Upon entering Yun Yuan, he saw Ye Luan, pale and with a dazed expression, staggering out after knocking out a room full of midwives and maids.
Her indifferent and fierce eyes narrowed slightly when she saw him return.
"Oh, awake then."
Ye Luan, clutching a hidden weapon, watched him warily.
Xie Beihan walked over with a light laugh, grabbed her hand, and pulled her back inside.
"Huo Qi, find a doctor."
"Yes."
Ye Luan cried out in pain as her wounds were torn open, bleeding.
However, she paid no heed. The hidden weapon in her hand struck the man’s neck, who, sensing the killing intent, immediately seized her hand, dodged, and counterattacked.
They then began to fight fiercely inside the room.
Ye Luan’s body was in great pain, severely injured. After just being bandaged, this violent struggle caused her wounds to burst open with blood.
After only a few exchanges, she was easily subdued by Xie Beihan. He was fierce and strong, dislocating her arm with swift force.
Ye Luan cried out in pain and quickly kicked towards his wound.
"Heh, still able to fight me? You seem to be recovering well."
Sweat beaded on Ye Luan's forehead, her pupils tinged with blood. She glared at him defiantly.
Xie Beihan sneered, quickly moving behind her and grasping her scapula.
"Dare to be insolent again, and I’ll dislocate all your bones."
With that, he gripped her body and with a crack, forcefully reset her arm.
"Ah—"
Ye Luan's face instantly lost all color from the pain, and she almost collapsed.
Xie Beihan pressed his slightly numb tongue against his teeth, then scooped her up by the waist, stepping over the fallen maids and midwives, and placed her back onto the bed.
He looked down at her with wicked eyes, a sinister and cold smile curling his lips.
Ye Luan was covered in a cold sweat. She stared intently at him, saying nothing.
Seeing her like this, Xie Beihan threatened, "Behave, or I'll really kill you." He then seemed to recall something and scoffed, "Someone who has died once shouldn't be thinking of dying again. That would be truly foolish."
Ye Luan gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and looked at him coldly. "You abducted me here. What exactly do you want?"
Xie Beihan said casually, "Naturally, I'm taking you back to the East Palace." He paused, then cupped her chin, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "From now on, no one will know you are still alive. You belong to me alone."
As he finished speaking, she suddenly threw a hook punch, aiming straight for his face.
Xie Beihan dodged her fist, grabbed her body, and pushed her onto the bed.
"You heartless woman, is this how you treat your savior?"
Ye Luan’s eyes were bloodshot. She grabbed his collar, disregarding her injuries, and struck at him fiercely. Her movements were fluid and natural, as if she weren't seriously injured at all.
Xie Beihan did not dodge and took a solid punch to the face.
He licked the blood from his lips, a sinister smile appearing. With one hand, he caught her arms and pressed them firmly onto the bed, his voice chilling, laced with a hint of gentleness.
"Little girl, if you continue to be so unruly, I won't mind locking you up."
A wave of pain washed over Ye Luan’s body.
She gritted her teeth and endured. "Is this how the Crown Prince of Beiqi takes advantage of others?"
Damn it.
He had knocked her out and brought her to Beiqi. Shameless, utterly shameless!
"How can this be called taking advantage? You were severely injured and unconscious. I saved you, I am your savior." He paused, his lips curving into a smile. "A life debt must be repaid with oneself."
As he spoke, he felt a throbbing pain at the corner of his mouth. He touched it with his fingertip and found it covered in blood.
"Heh, you hit hard."
Ye Luan coldly pushed him away. "Get up."
Xie Beihan saw the frightening paleness of her complexion, raised an eyebrow, stood up, and patted his rumpled robes, chuckling softly.
"You jumped into the ice cave, choosing death over Xiao Chizhan. You certainly don't want to go back to him now. Xiao Chizhan believes you died in the ice cave and won't look for you. Only I know you are alive. Stay by my side, come with me."
Ye Luan lowered her eyes, fine beads of sweat forming on her brow. Her voice was indifferent and calm.
"Who is Xiao Chizhan?"
Hearing this, Xie Beihan froze for a moment before narrowing his eyes slightly. "What did you say?"
"I don't know what the Crown Prince is talking about. You are truly insidious to take advantage of me like this."
As Ye Luan spoke, she supported her weak body and attempted to get off the bed.
Suddenly, she coughed up a large mouthful of blood, staining her clothes. She collapsed backward, weak and powerless. Xie Beihan immediately reached out to catch her. Seeing that she had fainted, he called out, "Come in."
The doctor waiting outside rushed in with a medicine box.
"Go and examine her."
The doctor respectfully replied, "Yes."
While the doctor was treating her, Huo Qi ordered the midwives and maids on the ground to be removed and the signs of the struggle to be cleaned up.
Xie Beihan sat lazily in a round chair, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips.
"Have you found out?"
Huo Qi replied respectfully, "All those sent have died."
A cold laugh then echoed.
"I heard that the old King Liang personally went to Hongzhou to see him?"
"Yes, His Majesty ordered King Liang to go."
The three cities of Chaoge were breached, and General Yelü's fate was unknown. The Dingbei King's actions had shocked the imperial court, and His Majesty was furious.
However, with Chaoge breached and Jiuchuan besieged by Xiliang, the court was overwhelmed and unable to attend to other matters. This banquet in Yanjing was meant to unite other nations to kill the Dingbei King.
This person was to be executed by all under heaven.
Xie Beihan turned his gaze, his deep pupils fixated on the person on the bed. He tapped the tea table with his fingers, his voice low.
"Tsk, I really didn't want him to come."
Huo Qi said, "The Emperor has set a trap to kill the Dingbei King. Isn't that exactly what you want?"
"Heh, if the old emperor could truly kill him, I wouldn't be so worried."
Xie Beihan leaned back, and the surrounding air grew a few degrees colder.
Huo Qi did not understand why the Crown Prince feared the Dingbei King’s arrival in Beiqi so much. Was it merely because he could not kill him?
"Issue my order. Send Xu Da to Jizhou. If Da Liang breaches further west, I will have his entire family’s lives."
"Yes."
After the man left, the doctor walked over respectfully. "Crown Prince, this young lady has suffered severe injuries and requires good rest. I will prescribe some herbal remedies. When the lady wakes, she must drink the medicine promptly."
Xie Beihan thought of what she had just said and asked.
"Her head was struck. Could she have lost her soul?"
The doctor replied, "I have bandaged her. Her brain suffered a severe trauma, and such a condition might occur. However, we need to wait for the patient to wake up for a thorough examination."
Xie Beihan gazed thoughtfully at the bed a few times, his lips curving. This little fox might be deceiving him. He wouldn't fall for her tricks so easily.
"Alright, go and brew the medicine."