Chapter 14 014 Putting Her to Death

For three days, all was calm and undisturbed, and Qingli's heart was at peace.

These concubines, in groups of two or three in a carriage, went in a grand procession to the back mountain of the training ground to participate in the hunt.

Everyone knew that Qingli had been punished, and the resentment had been building up for a long time. Now, she was even less willing to ride with her. Only Madam Ling and she were left in the carriage. They were usually unable to go out, and the situation was already very noisy. Madam Ling lifted the carriage curtain and peered at the lively scene outside.

Looking back at her with her eyes closed, I muttered, "Is she lacking sleep?"

The women's carriages drove directly into the rear tents, guarded by soldiers outside. But it was still much freer than being in the open courtyard. They strolled in groups of three or five on the green grass. Qingli looked into the distance at the fluttering banners and the earth-shaking sounds of the crowd echoing from the front.

Lady Ling was both angry and annoyed because she was isolated by the concubines. Seeing her looking down and meek, she could only take her for a walk. After walking for half an hour with a grudge, Lady Ling's brows were furrowed, large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her pace became faster and faster, until she even started to jog.

Qingli's wrist ached from being pulled, but as they strolled aimlessly, they were already a thousand meters away from the camp. They stopped Lady Ling in her tracks and pointed to a place overgrown with withered grass, "Go there."

Lady Ling had already reached her limit, and her face was slightly flushed. She ordered two maids to stay there and pulled her to that place. They parted the overgrown grass and found that there was enough room for two people. She became even more anxious.

Qingli was unwilling to go in, so she pointed behind her. Madam Ling could no longer bear it and followed her.

She stood behind the thick vines, bathed in the warm sunlight and a gentle breeze, her lotus-colored dress catching the eye. Leaning against the branches, she felt comfortable all over, and the tension of the past few days finally eased.

The rustling sound of footsteps on dry branches and grass swept over her ears. She tensed up, glanced at the river moon hidden behind the towering rocks, and slowly relaxed her hands and feet, completely concealing herself behind the tree.

Suppressing his voice, he murmured, "Everyone, obey my orders and go to your respective posts. Only spare the prince's life; kill the rest without mercy."

Dozens of people responded in hushed tones, like the empty sound of a zither. Qingli tried her best to stay tense, breathing lightly, not daring to make the slightest sound. Only after the footsteps had faded away did she rush down like an arrow, pulling the newly emerged Lady Ling towards the camp. Lady Ling's voice was high-pitched, and she screamed repeatedly as she was pulled along, startling the birds in the forest.

An arrow pierced the air as she tumbled into the tent with Lady Ling in her arms. The guards outside immediately became alert. She felt her subordinate struggling, helped the pale Lady Ling to her feet, patted the dry grass off her body, and said casually, "You were unsteady on your feet and caused you to fall."

The other person pouted, grunted, and swayed out of the tent. Qingli patted her skirt and squinted as she stepped out of the tent, the sunlight making her squint.

As she entered the tent, Lady Ling instructed her maid to change her clothes. She gestured for Jiang Zhao to come forward and pick up the bright red dress, saying apologetically, "Let my maid wash it herself as an apology to you."

When the midnight chill arrived, Qingli, who had been resting for many days, did not find the night unbearable. She was just anxious, because his absence meant that the situation must be very serious. The next morning, even Lady Ling was called out to participate in the hunt, leaving her alone in the tent.

When Qiu Zhi lifted the curtain, he saw her in her brand-new riding outfit, an old-fashioned lake green, and glanced at her up and down with disdain. "On this joyous occasion, by the grace of the Princess, you shall also go to the back mountain."

Qingli arrived and obediently bowed, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Qiu snorted coldly, turned and walked away.

The sound of arrows flying from the horse seemed both near and far on the other side of the mountain. She had seen the topographical map of this mountain and knew that there was a shortcut leading to the other side of the mountain at the corner where the rocks protruded.

The further she went, the denser the grass and branches became, with yellow and green twigs intertwined. She almost reached a dead end, unable to see where the path on the mountain rocks led. She couldn't help but sigh deeply. She had practiced it a hundred times in her mind, but it was still difficult to do. Moreover, in her condition, after only half an hour, beads of sweat were rolling down her forehead, and her face was flushed from the heat.

Breathing became increasingly difficult; each breath was exhaled rapidly without being felt in the abdomen.

She could barely feel her shoes; the pebbles on the ground burned her soles, and blisters had formed on her fingers. Her scimitar continued to hack at the bushes blocking her path. Her only hope for breaking the deadlock was Meng Qingshan, so he absolutely could not be harmed.

Finally, just as she was about to give up, a sudden boulder fell from the sky. She was flexible and nimbly crossed it, skimming over the surface. In an instant, everything changed. Looking around, she saw lush greenery everywhere. Thick trees with verdant canopies filtered the intense sunlight into dappled patterns. A cool breeze immediately calmed the heat that was radiating from her body.

She tied a red scarf to a high branch and hid it in a crevice in the nearby rocks. She rode her horse at full speed, causing the ground to tremble slightly. She watched as the sun rose high overhead, and time was running out.

A series of chirping sounds, loud and rhythmic, made her slightly peek out. She looked at Meng Qingshan on his tall horse, her voice slightly choked. She watched as he handed the horse to Qi Zhaoxin and quickly disappeared into the rocky peak. He was a burly man, and the rocky peak was narrow, so the two of them were almost touching. Meng Qingshan carefully examined her and let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry." A thousand words were left unsaid, but only one sentence came out.

Qingli didn't care about his apology. Her goals were clear, and everything she did was for personal gain. Emotions were useless, and she shouldn't get caught up in them.

She briefly recounted the events of the past few days to him, then paused for a moment, her eyelashes lifting to reveal her solemn eyes. "The second condition is that you must send someone to remain hidden around me at all times. Once I give the signal, you must overcome all obstacles to help me escape."

Meng Qingshan's heart tightened, and his breath caught in his throat. The two stared at each other, locked in a stalemate, each trying to get what they wanted from the other. After a moment, he felt a sharp, ironic pain in his heart. If he weren't more suitable, she probably wouldn't have acknowledged him. After a couple of breaths, he suppressed the churning emotions in his stomach and said firmly, "It's a deal."

Having received assurances, Qingli told him what she had overheard the assassins discussing, completely ignoring the fleeting stiffness on his face. Just as she was about to return to her tent, a whooshing sound came from behind. Meng Qingshan picked her up and ran into the distance. Behind them, rocks exploded, debris flew everywhere, and the sound of the explosion echoed through the mountains.

All was silent, then came a deafening roar of chaos; everything in the mountains was in turmoil.

Her hair was disheveled, and he pushed her onto the horse. He mounted his horse and galloped away, leaving behind the words, "There are assassins in the mountains. Protect the prince!"

Qingli bent down and hugged the horse's neck, glancing back occasionally. She guessed that Madam Jiang didn't take her seriously, as she didn't even bother to change out of the guards' uniforms. After a moment's thought, the swift wind caught her breath, and she spoke incoherently, "They're coming for me."

She maintained her balance, but overestimated herself. With Gao Ma's leap, her body swayed and she was about to fall to the ground. In extreme panic, even her screams seemed to go silent. Suddenly, a strong arm pulled her into a broad chest.

His heartbeat was strong and powerful but not rapid, a stark contrast to her drum-like heartbeat.

They were surely trying to kill her. After the close combat, the sound of horses' hooves followed like a shadow, and arrows carrying gunpowder rained down around them. Flames crackled and popped as they burned the dry grass. A gust of wind swept through, and the fire grew even larger, with black smoke billowing everywhere.

Strange rocks stood tall, and a flat stone slab appeared ahead. Qingli's breath caught in her throat as she heard Meng Qingshan behind her sweep away the arrows with his sword. At the last moment, he shouted, "Meng Qingshan!"

She instinctively closed her eyes, the wind masking her hearing, leaving only a buzzing sound. The next instant, her body was lifted into the air, and she clung to him tightly. Time stretched infinitely, and finally, just as she was about to hit the ground, she regained her hearing. Then, she rolled twice, a short, muffled groan above her head, and the dry grass stung her face. She opened her eyes and her limbs went weak. The horse from before, and the guard who hadn't reined in in time, fell off the cliff one after another.

The sounds of wailing and tumbling echoed from the mountainside, and everyone's expression changed.

Qingli looked at the four people surrounding them with an expression of irreconcilable hatred. Before they could react, she slashed at them with her sword.

Overwhelmed by the series of shocks, she had long since lost her composure. Looking at the body blocking her way, revealing a back that was scorched and festering, Qing Li's heart, which had been hardened and cold like black iron, couldn't help but feel the first trace of warmth in five years, a warmth that made her heart ache.

"If your fate is inauspicious, kill without hesitation."

Qingli's expression turned icy as she looked at Meng Qingshan, a murderous aura filling the air. Her voice was full of malice as she spoke, "You dare to touch her life? You're courting death!"

He twirled the hilt of his sword, each move ruthless in his fight. His skill was profound, and he had killed countless enemies on the battlefield. The guards of the Prince's Mansion were nothing in front of him. The people on the other side also noticed this. The four of them looked at each other and all moved away to entangle with him. Seeing that there was space behind him, one of the guards turned and came towards her.

Unexpectedly, Meng Qingshan had already anticipated this plan. A sharp blade flew out from his sleeve, its force so great that it pinned him to a thick log behind him, instantly killing him. The remaining three were all terrified by his terrifying methods, and their feet involuntarily showed a defensive retreat.

Qingli looked at Meng Qingshan, whose eyes were bloodshot. As always, he was ruthless in his childhood. They grew up in a poor alley. Without their father, they would be bullied by other children in the alley. The little boy pushed her aside as she cried, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed into the group of people who were mocking him. He tore and punched them, and even when he was bleeding, he kept rushing forward.

His eyes were bloodshot, like a ferocious wolf cub, which frightened the group. But he still felt it wasn't enough. Seeing them retreat, he trampled them underfoot until they cried and screamed. She had long forgotten how to cry. Her mind was filled with his violent fists and the cruel scene of blood and flesh flying everywhere. From then on, she began to consciously avoid him.

Another person fell in front of her, and she shuddered to regain her senses. The remaining two had already lost their will to fight and turned to flee. Their blades were drawn, and in the blink of an eye, they fell to the ground, lifeless.

A pair of hands covered her eyes, rough and large, cold black iron mixed with a strong smell of blood. Qing Li leaned back to avoid them, and when she met their eyes, the fierceness in their cold eyes had not yet subsided. She immediately looked away.

She was taken aback, wondering what he was avoiding.

Without the horse, Meng Qingshan pulled her wrist and walked back. The dense forest was quiet, but the sounds of fighting and battle from somewhere kept coming and going, brushing against their ears.

She still couldn't see his face, and remained unusually silent. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, and they quickly followed the edge of the forest to the rocks. There was a huge crater on the ground, and the rubble had been blasted dozens of meters away.

Jiang was planning to strike her decisively. She broke free of the restraint on her wrist. Now that things had come to this, she might as well be honest and tell the truth: "Jiang hates me to the extreme. My life hangs by a thread, and I still need my brother's help."

His hand, hanging by his side, suddenly clenched into a fist. The sudden surge of malice almost made him hide her away. But he knew she preferred refined gentlemen, so he put on a calm demeanor. Little did she know that his black iron and silver armor was stained with blood and gleamed coldly. Coupled with the taut lines of his cold face, it sent chills down her spine.

He whistled into the distance, and in the blink of an eye, a bodyguard flew down to her side. "His name is Yun Xiu, and from this moment on, he will protect you."

Qingli could barely hear Yun Xiu's breathing, and was even more impressed by his agility, which was as light as a falling leaf. At this moment, she looked at Yun Xiu with burning eyes, as if she had obtained a priceless treasure.

The next moment, she looked at him hesitantly. With such powerful bodyguards, how could he have ended up isolated and helpless? Was he just teasing her? Her worsening injuries and constant fear... the more she thought about it, the more something seemed wrong. Her eyes sharpened as she looked him up and down.

He tilted his head slightly upwards, preventing her from seeing his expression, and calmly explained, "These are the prince's bodyguards, responsible for protecting my safety."

Yun Xiu moved his body slightly, then seemed to enter a meditative state again.

Meng Qingshan paused for a moment, then continued, "The Prince of Dingxi's cleverness has backfired. The Jiang family used explosives, and the blame falls right on the Prince of Dingxi. The coming days will likely be turbulent, so he should protect himself."

Qingli nodded, and seeing the sun beginning to set, she stayed behind on the mountain without stopping.

Meng Qingshan watched her walk lightly and muttered, "You heartless little thing."

At this moment, he was like a ferocious beast ready to unleash its power, his black iron armor trembling with a deep sound, and dozens of guards stood silently behind him as he rode his horse into the dense forest.

Qingli couldn't see such a horrifying scene. When she returned to the tent, Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yue had already prepared everything. She washed her face and changed her clothes. When Madam Ling came in with a panicked expression, she saw her reading a book intently under the warm candlelight.