Shangguan Hao's face instantly darkened. He hadn't expected this woman to be prepared. She had never intended to cooperate with him from the start; he suspected she harbored the ambition to conquer Wanhe Kingdom. It seemed his trip was in vain. Waves of treachery rippled in his eyes as he lunged directly at Qingyao.
"Today, I, this crown prince, will risk my life to kill you, woman."
Unfortunately, Qingyao flinched, causing his hand to miss. She retreated, and Yin Xuan darted out like lightning. Mo Chou, standing by, immediately moved towards Shangguan Hao's subordinates. In an instant, the confined private room erupted into a battle that soon spilled from the second floor to the first. In the main hall, tables, chairs, cabinets, and counters were destroyed. The shopkeeper and the waiter trembled under the counter in fear.
Qingyao's chosen entourage was superior and far outnumbered Shangguan Hao's men, quickly defeating many of his subordinates.
Shangguan Hao prided himself on being unmatched by anyone except his master and junior brother. Yet, the moment he clashed with Yin Xuan, he sensed his opponent's formidable skill. The techniques were familiar, and looking up at the man opposite him, he gasped in disbelief.
"You? You're actually here."
He finally recognized the man before him from his swordplay and Yin Xuan's eyes – it was Emperor Xian, his junior brother.
He had never imagined that the Emperor had been by this woman's side all along. It was no wonder the hundred thousand troops had advanced like an unstoppable force, marching north and directly attacking Danfeng. This was the result of a collaboration between two capable individuals. It was understandable. Since he was here, it would be impossible for him to kill Mu Qingyao. It seemed he needed to resort to stratagem. He had heard that Mu Qingyao had a daughter who was only three years old. She would surely be easier to deal with than these adults.
A thought flashed through Shangguan Hao's mind. Without showing any change, he attacked ferociously. His swordplay was sharp, forcing Yin Xuan to take a step back. Seizing this opening, he launched himself away with the speed of a startled cloud. His subordinates, who had been fighting Mo Chou, were already injured. Seeing their master flee, they ceased their engagement and soared into the air, pursuing him.
Pitifully, the remaining subordinates in the hall were all killed by Qingyao's men, their bodies strewn amidst the broken furniture, a gruesome sight.
Qingyao descended from the second floor. Not seeing Shangguan Hao, she looked towards Yin Xuan, whose expression was extremely grim. A muffled voice broke the silence: "He slipped away."
"Why?"
Qingyao raised an eyebrow in confusion. Given Shangguan Hao's personality, he was a proud and arrogant man who wouldn't give up so easily. Why would he flee?
"I fear he recognized my identity."
As Yin Xuan spoke, Qingyao's face turned pale with alarm. If Shangguan Hao recognized him, it would surely cause trouble. It was best to have Yin Xuan return to the palace as soon as possible; she would handle everything here.
"You should return to the palace. If he leaks this information, it will be disadvantageous to you."
"And you?" Yin Xuan looked at Qingyao with concern. At such a time, he couldn't possibly leave her here alone. He was deeply worried. His face showed his dilemma.
Qingyao immediately rebuked him, "At a time like this, what are you thinking about? I will be fine. You must ride back quickly; you should be able to reach the palace before him."
"Alright, but Shangguan Hao, you must not confront him directly. Use your wits, understand?"
Yin Xuan stopped speaking. He trusted that Qingyao would not let anything happen to him. He would return, handle some matters, and then come to find her.
"I will return to the palace immediately. You must prioritize your safety."
As he prepared to leave, Yin Xuan solemnly cautioned her. Leading a few subordinates, he mounted his horse. In his backward glance, endless affection lingered in his eyes. He waved, and with a spirited gallop, he rode away. In the gentle breeze, his robes fluttered, his dark hair like clouds in the distance. He seemed as ethereal as a gust of wind, drifting away and slowly fading into a black dot.
Mo Chou approached his mistress and spoke softly, "Let's go back."
"Alright," Qingyao nodded. She still had important matters to attend to. Since Shangguan Hao had appeared, he would undoubtedly not rest. Qingyao couldn't quite fathom his next move. She was not very familiar with Shangguan Hao and therefore couldn't fully anticipate his actions.
The group mounted their horses and returned to the inn.
Little Fish knew that her Imperial Father had returned to the palace. Although her heart ached, she said nothing...
Due to Shangguan Hao's appearance, Qingyao had ordered stricter security measures for the night, allowing no one to intrude.
Nothing happened for three consecutive days. However, on the fourth night, around midnight, the outside became chaotic and disorderly. Qingyao abruptly sat up, her eyes sharp as she called out, "Mo Chou, what happened?"
Mo Chou rushed in from outside, his face somber. He spoke in a low voice, "Someone has infiltrated the inn? The soldiers are apprehending them. Many people have entered!"
"It's that despicable Shangguan Hao again," Qingyao gritted her teeth, moving to the bedside. Mo Chou quickly helped her up. Before she could even finish dressing, Bing Xiao's voice called from outside, "Mistress, it's not good! Someone lured away my subordinates and kidnapped the Princess."
"What?" Qingyao's expression turned grim. Without tidying her hair, she walked out, casually taking a silk ribbon to tie up her dark hair.
"You say someone took Little Fish?"
"Yes, I have failed in my duty," Bing Xiao knelt respectfully. She never imagined that someone would use a diversionary tactic. She had only pursued for a short while before someone abducted the little princess. It seemed the princess was truly the marshal's weakness. However, the current princess was not the same as before. Bing Xiao recalled what the princess had been tinkering with these past few days, saying no one could bully her. She wondered what schemes she had concocted.
Qingyao's face was grim. She could hardly concern herself with punishing Bing Xiao. Moreover, she knew that Shangguan Hao was no ordinary man; his mind was still somewhat useful.
In the dark night, Qingyao stood in the long corridor. The sky was dark, with not a trace of light. Soldiers ran past intermittently. An Dingfeng and his few deputy generals lived in tents outside the inn, not within its premises.
Qingyao was waiting. She knew Shangguan Hao's true target was not Little Fish, but herself, Mu Qingyao. The person he truly wanted to kill was Mu Qingyao...
Soon, a soldier reported, "Marshal, it's not good! Someone has kidnapped the little princess and said, and said?"
"What did they say?" Mo Chou urged anxiously, stepping forward and grabbing the young soldier by the collar. Startled, he quickly said, "Tell the Marshal to proceed immediately to Giant Peak Mountain opposite the inn, or she will never see the princess again."
"Alright, head to Giant Peak Mountain immediately."
Qingyao commanded in a deep voice. Mo Chou and Bing Xiao quickly gathered some people and headed towards Giant Peak Mountain, following behind them. They had to be cautious tonight. The Emperor was not here, and these men might not be able to defeat Shangguan Hao. Everyone had assumed Shangguan Hao would find a way to deal with the Emperor, but unexpectedly, he was solely focused on their mistress. It seemed he was determined to harm her. They would sacrifice their lives before allowing him to harm even a single strand of their mistress's hair.