Xue Zining did not know much about the Han Kingdom, but she was aware of a few individuals within the royal family.
The most legendary among them was a prince named Han Xixia.
From a young age, he possessed the strength of an ox, able to lift things with ease that ordinary men could not.
He was valiant in battle. The reason he lost to the Crown Prince of the Xue Kingdom was not due to a lack of skill, but rather Yen Zhao's cunning.
In a one-on-one fight, he might not have been a match for Prince Xixia.
Xue Zining's heart sank. She had not expected to encounter Prince Xixia here. She wondered if she was too lucky, or too unlucky.
"And you, miss?" Prince Xixia asked.
"Feng Ning," Xue Zining replied.
"Miss Feng, tonight was entirely a misunderstanding. However, since you have discovered us, you cannot leave," Prince Xixia stated.
Xue Zining twitched her lips and looked up at Prince Xixia, asking, "Are you and so many others bullying one young woman?"
Prince Xixia smiled. "Miss Feng is mistaken. I merely wish to invite you to be my guest in my country."
A guest? Xue Zining inwardly sneered. She raised her eyes, her expression frosty. "I'm sorry, I don't like being a prisoner."
Upon hearing this, Prince Xixia said, "Since Miss Feng is unwilling, it is regrettable that I cannot let you leave. However, I am not one to take advantage of someone's misfortune. I will give you three moves. If, within those three moves, you can touch any part of me, you win."
"If I win, you'll let me go?" Xue Zining asked, looking up.
Prince Xixia nodded. "Yes."
Xue Zining felt no trace of joy. Prince Xixia saying this suggested he was confident she wouldn't be able to touch him within three moves.
But, she had to try, didn't she?
"Alright, I hope Prince Xixia keeps his word."
"You have a saying, 'A gentleman's word is as good as his bond'," Prince Xixia said slowly.
Before Prince Xixia could finish speaking, Xue Zining launched a sudden attack.
"You're attacking sneakily," the man whose head had been stepped on said angrily.
Xue Zining sneered and retorted, "All's fair in war."
The man, enraged, began to curse, "You have no shame."
"Your feet are on the soil of the Xue Kingdom. Aren't you Han people the ones with no shame?"
The man sputtered incoherently in words Xue Zining couldn't understand, likely a stream of curses directed at her.
"It's too noisy. Make him shut up." Xue Zining took something from her waist and threw it towards the man.
The man, still muttering incessantly, suddenly had something stuffed into his mouth, rendering him unable to remove it.
"It's much quieter now," Xue Zining said, as she launched her second attack towards Prince Xixia.
Her first move had merely been to test Prince Xixia's skills.
Just as she had predicted, she, being injured, was likely not his match.
Prince Xixia dodged the second move as well.
There was only one move left. Xue Zining stood there, her wound throbbing more intensely than before. She could feel the blood slowly seeping out, her body losing a lot of blood.
For the final move, she had to win.
She couldn't win by force; only by strategy.
Xue Zining took a deep breath and suddenly took off her outer jacket, revealing her inner clothing.
Prince Xixia blinked. He truly hadn't expected this young woman to start undressing without a word.
Xue Zining continued until she was only wearing her white inner garment, then stopped. The white fabric, however, made her wound even more conspicuous.
Blood was still slowly trickling from her right side. She picked up the discarded outer jacket and wrapped it around the wound.
Prince Xixia startled. "You... you're injured?"
Xue Zining looked up, her voice cold. "So what? I don't need your pity."
Prince Xixia's gaze deepened. He looked up at the young woman. She had a face of unparalleled beauty. Strands of hair clung to her fair, clean forehead, and sweat trickled down her cheeks, dripping onto the delicate collarbone beneath her clothes.
Prince Xixia's gaze tightened. He turned his face away and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I don't wish to take advantage of the vulnerable."
Xue Zining sneered. "When someone has their foot on another country's land, and yet speaks of not taking advantage of misfortune with such righteous words, do you think anyone would believe you?"
Prince Xixia was taken aback. He turned his head back, meeting her clear eyes, which were like the pristine, flawless snow he had seen in the Xue Kingdom.
This woman, no, she seemed rather young. She appeared more beautiful and captivating than any woman he had ever met.
"Come with me, and I will give you a position equal to mine."
Xue Zining froze. It took her a moment to process what Prince Xixia had said.
"Princess Consort?" Xue Zining sneered. "I'm afraid I'm already in love with someone else."
Xixia froze, his gaze gradually intensifying, his tone becoming stiff. "And who is this person?"
Xue Zining smiled, revealing a dazzling smile. Then, she moved with swiftness. "It's the person who will defeat you."
Xixia had not anticipated the young woman making a move at this moment.
He couldn't dodge in time. His jade pendant was snatched away. He instinctively retaliated, striking Xue Zining's chest with his palm.
Xue Zining felt as if her chest cavity had been shattered. She spat out a mouthful of blood.
She rolled several times before finally being stopped by a tree, halting her momentum.
Prince Xixia's gaze tightened, and he rushed forward. Before he could even touch the young woman's clothes, an arrow grazed the back of his hand and fell to the ground.
The arrowhead had cut his hand, and blood immediately began to well up.
Prince Xixia looked up and saw a young man approaching on horseback, his face so cold it seemed he could freeze water.
"Young General Yuan, it has been a long time," Prince Xixia said slowly.
The young man's gaze was icy, and his tone conveyed even greater chill. "Prince Xixia, this is Xue Kingdom's territory. I urge you to leave quickly, otherwise, I will not be polite."
Prince Xixia smiled and cupped his hands. "Young General Yuan, we shall meet again!"
He then looked at the girl lying on the ground and said, "I will remember you."
With that, Prince Xixia departed.
Xue Zining knew she had been saved.
She felt herself being lifted, but she could no longer open her eyes. She was placed on horseback, but unfortunately, she was too weak to ride on her own.
Suddenly, a large object fell from above, and she was pulled forward, her entire body pressed against a wall of flesh. The moment she made contact, her back stiffened.
Xue Zining opened her eyes and realized she had been tied with clothing to the young man riding the horse.
There was no doubt that this young man was Yuan Zhao.
"Forgive me!" the young man's voice was somewhat cold.
Xue Zining grunted, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over her. She had no choice but to hold tightly onto the young man's waist.
The young man's already stiff back became even more rigid.
All the way back to the military camp, the young man seemed to have remained completely still, maintaining the same posture.
"Brother Yuan Zhao..." Chu Ling'er's anxious expression brightened when she saw the young man's figure.
She stepped forward and saw the young man dismounting the girl. "Ling'er, go call Xingzhi."
Chu Ling'er nodded. "I'll go right now."
The young man placed the girl on the bed. He noticed her hand still clutched his sleeve. As he was about to pry her fingers open, he heard her whisper, "Zhao..."