As the city gates of Yunzhong City faded from sight, Chu Qingge's anxiety grew.
Prince Qin sat beside her, engrossed in a book, while Xiao Man dozed on the other side, eyes closed.
Chu Qingge tugged at Xiao Man's sleeve. Xiao Man opened her eyes, and Chu Qingge, with a series of nudges, urged her to ask Prince Qin to let her leave.
Xiao Man sat up straighter, her gaze falling on Prince Qin. When he was focused on his reading, an ethereal aura emanated from him. His expression was serene and gentle, a faint halo surrounding him, softening his features to an exquisite beauty.
"Your Highness Prince Qin," Xiao Man said, prompted by Chu Qingge.
"Something wrong?" Nangong Yu asked without looking up, turning a page.
"May Qingge alight and depart?" Xiao Man ventured.
Nangong Yu finally lifted his gaze from the book, looking at Xiao Man. Seeing her meet his eyes steadily, and Chu Qingge's expectant expression, he pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Halt the carriage."
The carriage stopped smoothly, without any jolt. Chu Qingge beamed, immediately bowing. "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Qin."
Watching Chu Qingge happily disembark, Xiao Man couldn't help but express her concern. "Qingge, don't push yourself. If it's too much, let my brother escort you back to the capital."
Chu Qingge waved at Xiao Man. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Xiao Man watched Chu Qingge run back in the direction of Yunzhong City, sighing with emotion. "What is love in this world..."
Nangong Yu raised an eyebrow at Xiao Man, expecting her to remark on Chu Qingge's unwavering affection for her brother. Instead, Xiao Man gritted her teeth and said, "...It drives women to lose their minds!"
The book slipped from Nangong Yu's hand. He quickly reached to catch it, but Xiao Man had already drawn the carriage curtain and sat sighing. Thinking of her own dense brother and Chu Qingge's resolute expression, Xiao Man worried that Chu Qingge might face hardship in Yunzhong City.
"Worried?" Nangong Yu asked, putting down his book.
"How could I not be?" Xiao Man rested her chin on her hand, continuing to sigh. "My brother is such a blockhead, he doesn't understand women's hearts. Oh, why did Qingge fall for someone like my brother?"
Nangong Yu's expression twitched. If your brother is a blockhead, you're not much better. I took a knife for you, and yet you don't show me even a sliver of affection!
"Your Highness," Xiao Man leaned closer to Nangong Yu. "May I discuss something with you?"
"What is it?" Nangong Yu asked, puzzled. From his understanding of Xiao Man, when she acted meek and submissive, it usually meant trouble.
Xiao Man poked her fingers together. "Well, the thing is, I secretly ran away from home. No one at the manor knows I've left, so I want to travel alone..."
"Absolutely not," Nangong Yu refused without hesitation. "The journey back to the capital is over a thousand li. If anything were to happen to you traveling alone, how would I explain it to your brother? He entrusted you to my care. Since I promised, I must fulfill it."
"My brother will never know."
"Still not possible. I keep my word. If I said I would escort you home safely, I must do so," Nangong Yu said firmly. If Xiao Man traveled alone, she might not even make it back to the capital alive. Did she really think no one knew she had secretly left? Su Dan Fiction Network.
Xiao Man was annoyed but dared not lash out at Nangong Yu.
Prince Qin wouldn't allow her to leave the convoy, but that didn't mean she couldn't sneak away. She would rest and recuperate during the day and then quietly slip away at night, unnoticed and unfelt.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted to a halt. Xiao Man tumbled forward, but Nangong Yu caught her, preventing her from hitting her head.
With Nangong Yu's help, Xiao Man steadied herself. "Enemy attack?"
Nangong Yu nodded. He had brought a significant escort on this outing. He wondered who dared to block their path, even disregarding the Prince Qin's banner. They were truly audacious.
"Si Ye."
"Your Highness, we are surrounded," Si Ye's voice came from outside, tinged with nervousness. It was clear the intruders were a considerable threat to him.
Nangong Yu's handsome brows furrowed slightly. He told Xiao Man to sit tight and then lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. He saw the leader, clad in black armor, holding a silver dragon spear with a red tassel. The spearhead gleamed with a chilling light.
The leader raised his spear, gathered his strength, and hurled it towards Nangong Yu's carriage. The spear cut through the air with intense killing intent.
Nangong Yu grabbed Xiao Man's waist and burst out of the carriage's top. The spear pierced the carriage, flew out, and embedded itself in the ground. Had Nangong Yu and Xiao Man remained inside, they would have been injured.
"Xiahou Ying." A flicker of surprise flashed in Nangong Yu's eyes, followed by understanding. Emperor Yun Qi had suffered so many losses at his hands; it would be beneath his reputation for perfidy and ruthlessness if he didn't send someone to seek retribution.
"Nangong Yu." Xiahou Ying's voice was as cold as ice. He had been a companion to the Emperor, though several years his senior. Unlike Qian Yihan, Xiahou Ying hailed from a military family, destined for the battlefield.
At Xiahou Ying's command, the surrounding attackers instantly tightened their encirclement and launched their assault.
Nangong Yu, holding Xiao Man with one arm and his sword with the other, felled the charging assassins. Xiahou Ying retrieved his spear and swept it across, shattering the carriage and forcing Nangong Yu to the ground. He then lunged at Nangong Yu, his spear moving like a coiling dragon, each thrust filled with killing intent, aiming for vital points.
Nangong Yu, already injured and having to protect Xiao Man, found it difficult to cope with Xiahou Ying's full-power assault. Xiao Man's expression shifted. "Your Highness, release me first. In your current state, fighting him while holding me will put you at a disadvantage."
Seeing Xiao Man attempt to break free from his embrace, Nangong Yu tightened his grip around her waist. Xiao Man sighed with a hint of helplessness. "Don't worry, I can protect myself."
Nangong Yu hesitated for a moment before releasing her, pushing her out of the combat zone between him and Xiahou Ying, and dedicating himself entirely to facing Xiahou Ying.
Compared to five years ago, Xiahou Ying had become much more composed. His sharp eyes, once youthful, now held a coldness. His thin lips were tightly pressed, revealing no emotion, and his entire being radiated a palpable killing intent.
Xiao Man, armed with a dagger, dealt with the assassins surrounding them. Xiahou Ying had dared to lead his men into Yun Qi territory to assassinate Prince Qin. Was this young man not afraid of no return?
Xiao Man's gaze shifted to the two figures locked in combat.
For some reason, upon meeting again, she felt Xiahou Ying had changed. Especially the killing intent surrounding him, so intense it was unnerving.