Chapter 66: I will protect you when you return home

The candlelight in the big tent flickered slightly, reflecting the floating gauze curtains. In the dim shadows, two people hugged each other and snuggled up on a brocade cushion, their breaths intertwined and their temperatures blended.

The night is dark, and the noise outside seems to be blocked in this quiet place, leaving only the sound of each other's breathing, gentle and warm.

Princess Guang'an leaned on Shen Yunchao's shoulder, her fingertips gently stroking the cloud pattern on his collar. After a long time, she finally asked him softly: "I clearly heard that you fell off the cliff, so what happened?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of fatigue that had not yet dissipated, but she could not hide the doubts in her heart.

Shen Yunchao lowered his eyes and looked at her. He was silent for a long time, and finally slowly said, "Before I went on the expedition, I realized that someone wanted to kill me. I was assassinated many times during the march. After secretly investigating, I found that there was a traitor among my own people."

"What then?" Princess Guang'an asked hurriedly.

"I was already alert at that time. Not long after, Regent King Yan Jinghuan sent Xing Zhou to catch up with me and told me a plan."

When Princess Guang'an heard Yan Jinghuan's name, she frowned slightly and sat up straighter.

Shen Yunchao seemed to sense her uneasiness, and he patted her back gently, signaling her not to be nervous. He then continued, "He told me that you were forced to marry far away in the northern border. Going to the wilderness to marry as a princess is like walking into the wolf's mouth."

"Since I have been tricked, I might as well take advantage of the situation and fake my own death to escape. This will not only make the person who wants to harm me reveal his true identity, but also allow me to split myself and come looking for you."

"After I fell off the cliff, Xing Zhou helped me sneak into the northern border. Then Xing Zhou, holding the token of the regent king, dispatched the army guarding the north to join the army of Yan and attack the royal court of the northern border together."

The tent was silent for a while, with only the smoke from the copper stove curling up, slightly dimming the night.

Princess Guang'an stared at him in amazement, and after a while she whispered, "How can Yan Jinghuan be so capable? How can he mobilize a large army? How can the State of Yan be willing to send troops to reinforce him?"

Shen Yunchao's eyes were deep, with a hint of respect in them.

"Yan Jinghuan has the tiger talisman in his hand, and Xing Zhou came with the tiger talisman this time, so he can naturally command the troops guarding the north."

"And Dayan...what they want is the entire northern border."

Princess Guang'an's heart was suddenly shocked.

She slowly turned her head and looked at the boundless night outside the tent.

In the distance, there were raging beacons and the sounds of fighting had not yet stopped. The sky and earth were filled with smoke, and blood and fire were intertwined into a world of killing.

She finally understood the ambition of the State of Yan. What they wanted was the entire northern territory and to completely annex this powerful enemy that had confronted them for many years.

Shen Yunchao reached out and covered the back of her slightly cold hand, and whispered: "After tonight, the Northern Territory Royal Court will no longer have the royal tent of the past."

Princess Guang'an was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled softly, tears in her eyes.

Yes, the Northern Royal Court no longer has the royal tent of the past.

But what will be her fate?

The candle flame flickered slightly, and the light and shadow swayed.

Shen Yunchao looked at Princess Guang'an, and seeing her lonely eyes, his heart ached. Finally, he stretched out his arms and gently held her in his arms.

His palms were warm and strong, and he held her tightly, as if he wanted to embed her into his bones and blood.

"Don't worry, I'll take you back to Beijing as soon as tomorrow morning comes."

His voice was soft, brushing gently against her ears.

"I will personally go to His Majesty and ask for permission to marry his beloved daughter, Princess Guang'an."

Princess Guang'an trembled violently when she heard this.

She looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes, and said sadly, "I have been sent out to marry... A daughter who is married off is like spilled water, how can I go back to my parents' home to marry again?"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress something, and her eyes were full of self-deprecating bitterness.

Shen Yunchao's eyes were slightly cold. He was usually patient and restrained, but at this moment he showed his strong and domineering side.

He suddenly tightened his arms and held her tightly in his embrace. His tone was more firm than ever before, and he almost gritted his teeth as he said, "Liyue, you and the Emperor of the Northern Territory have not yet completed the ceremony, so how can you talk about getting married?"

"Besides, if tonight doesn't pass, the North will be dead. Why bother with them?"

His words were like thunder, shaking Princess Guang'an's heart.

He lowered his head and stared at her, his eyes burning.

"Liyue, I love you, and I will marry you! You can blame me or hate me, but you can only be my, Shen Yunchao's, wife for the rest of your life!"

The young man stared at the person in his arms with a blazing gaze and a vow as sharp as a blade. "Liyue, marry me, okay? From now on, I will protect you."

Princess Guang'an burst into tears, her chest heaving violently, tears suddenly rolled down, and her vision blurred for an instant.

She choked, raised her hands and tightly grasped his collar, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, she threw herself into his arms.

Shen Yunchao reached out and embraced her, pressing his palm against her slightly trembling back. Feeling her warmth, his heart softened.

He lowered his head, pressed his thin lips lightly against her hair, and slowly tightened his arms.

At this moment, the world is vast and the war is raging.

But his arms are her only home.

Until the dawn, the air was still filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

The northern border was in ruins after the war, and bloodstains from last night's fierce battle could still be seen among the broken walls.

Shen Yunchao stood on a ruin, looking far towards the direction of the royal court in the north.

It had become a scorched earth, and the once extravagant northern royal family had finally turned into dust in the flames.

Xing Zhou walked over the messy ground, his body covered with dust and blood, but his eyes were still calm, and even revealed satisfaction, "The Great Yan army has won a great victory, and has completely wiped out the evil Northern Royal Family."

He stopped beside Shen Yunchao with a solemn expression.

"For many years, the royal family of the Northern Territory has treated its people harshly, extorted the people's wealth for their own enjoyment, and raised troops to burn, kill and plunder the surrounding countries. Now, they have finally been overthrown in one fell swoop and have completely belonged to Dayan."

"The Great Yan court has sent people to take over this place, clean up the mess, reorganize the people, and help the victims rebuild their homes and recuperate."

Shen Yunchao nodded slightly, his eyes calm, as if he didn't have too many emotional ups and downs about the victory or defeat of the battle.

He said slowly: "In this case, I will not join in the fun. I plan to set off immediately to escort Princess Guang'an back to Wei."

Xing Zhou was slightly startled when he heard this, then he nodded and said, "This is how it should be. The princess' marriage to the North is in name only. It is the safest thing for you to send her back."

He paused, then turned around and ordered the deputy general behind him: "Go and send a team of elite soldiers to escort General Shen and Princess Guang'an back to the capital."

The deputy general took the order and left. Soon, he brought a team of cavalrymen in distinctive armor. All of them were energetic and full of vigor.

Shen Yunchao climbed onto his horse and looked into the distance.

Outside the ruined city, under the warm yellow morning light, Princess Guang'an stood quietly under a remaining apricot tree. In the vast post-war world, she was dressed in a plain dress, with a hint of cold and lonely beauty.

Shen Yun clasped his fists and nodded to Xing Zhou, then turned his horse's head and slowly galloped towards Princess Guang'an under the apricot blossoms.

The morning light was dim, the sky and earth were vast, and the smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air.

Shen Yun rode towards her, stretched out his hand, and looked at her firmly.

Princess Guang'an was slightly startled, then she stretched out her hand. Just as her fingertips touched his, he used his clever strength to pull her onto the horse's back, held her tightly in his arms, clasped her slender waist tightly with his left arm, pulled the reins with his right hand, and galloped away.

The horses' hooves flew, raising clouds of dust, and the two figures galloped across the vast wilderness.

The wind whistled in their ears, and the land was desolate after the war. Only the two of them were riding their horses in this vast world, like dragons free from their shackles, free and unrestrained.

However, the pleasure did not last long. Suddenly, a cold light broke through the air, and a sharp arrow carried with it a fierce murderous intent, aiming straight at Shen Yunchao's heart!

Princess Guang'an suddenly screamed and threw herself into his arms without thinking, trying to use her body to block the fatal arrow.

"Liyue!"

Shen Yunchao's pupils suddenly shrank. He pulled the reins tightly, controlled the horse with one hand, leaned his body to the side, and narrowly avoided the sharp arrow!

The sharp arrow brushed past his shoulder and penetrated deeply into the ground. The tail of the arrow was still trembling slightly, so sharp!

Before the two could catch their breath, suddenly, a murderous aura rose up all around them, and an ambush suddenly appeared in the wilderness!

"Shen Yunchao!"

There was a deafening furious roar. The leader had a ferocious look on his face. He pointed his sword at Shen Yunchao with a sinister look, as if he wanted to eat both of them alive!

Princess Guang'an was terrified and looked intently. The person who was roaring was actually the eldest prince of the North!

The eldest prince of the North, who had treated her as a plaything and bullied her in every way, now had disheveled hair and was covered in blood, but the flames of hatred burned in his red eyes.

"Shen Yunchao! You slaughtered my royal family and seized my kingdom! Today, I want you to pay with blood!"

At his command, the killers swarmed forward, swords and knives flashing coldly, hacking at the two men with killing intent!

Shen Yunchao's eyes were cold. He controlled the reins with one hand and drew out his sword with the other hand, slashing it out of the sheath!

With one hand he protected the girl in his arms and with the other he gripped the hilt of the knife. He blocked the first attacking long knife with lightning speed. With a flick of his wrist, a cold light flashed, and he swept the long knife across the air!

Accompanied by screams and blood splattering, the attacking assassin fell down instantly!

The eldest prince was furious and rode his horse forward, his eyes red, and swung his sword to aim for Shen Yunchao's head!

Shen Yunchao's eyes were cold and murderous, and he suddenly spurred his horse to meet him. Princess Guang'an in his arms could feel the murderous aura coming from him, her heart pounding, and she clutched his clothes tightly in horror.

The sword flashed and the iron horse neighed!

Shen Yunchao's sword moves are fierce, every sword strike is as fast as the wind, and every sword strike is a deadly killing move!

The eldest prince of the Northern Territory roared and screamed, his eyes were red with killing intent, but in the end he was no match for his opponent and was killed by Shen Yunchao's sword.

Blood immediately gushed out from the eldest prince's neck, his body stiffened on the horse, and then he fell heavily to the ground, dying with his eyes open!

Seeing this, the remaining killers were terrified and retreated back in fear.

However, Shen Yunchao's sword was still sharp, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. He rode his horse into the crowd, the long sword in his hand like a killing god descending to the earth. Wherever he went, blood and flesh flew everywhere, leaving no one alive!

A moment later, all the killers were killed in the wilderness, the yellow sand was stained with blood, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

Shen Yunchao swung the blade with all his strength, and blood dripped down the blade.

He looked down at the woman in his arms and asked softly, "Liyue, are you hurt?"

Princess Guang'an was filled with horror as she looked at the bright red blood splattered on Shen Yunchao's forehead, her eyes misty.

She shook her head, choking with sobs and almost unable to make a sound, "Shen Yunchao..."

Shen Yunzhao's eyes softened, he reached out and gently wiped the blood off her cheek, then hugged her tightly in his arms, "Don't be afraid, it's all over."

"I'll take you home."