As they drew closer, Song Tangxue threw out the medicine from her hand, catching Dong Zhao off guard by the powder on her body.

She knew that Song Tangxue had become Xie Lingyi's apprentice, but she didn't expect Xie Lingyi to give her medicine for self-defense so quickly.

A tightness gripped her throat, and before she could say anything, she collapsed straight down. Song Tangxue held her breath and leaned back a step to avoid the powder.

However, the drug on the whip seeped into her bones, and Song Tangxue staggered out of the courtyard, biting her tongue until it bled. Her mind grew increasingly hazy, and she finally collapsed at the doorway.

This alley connects to the wealthy street next door; hopefully, a kind passerby will lend her a hand.

An Shiliu bowed and entered the room. Xie Qianzhong was somewhat surprised by his uninvited arrival: "Didn't I send you to the south of the city to check on that army? Why are you back so soon? Did something happen?"

Dark Sixteen was somewhat uncertain again. His master did treat Song Tangxue differently, but was it obvious?

Was it worth all that trouble for him to interrupt his mission and come back? "Song Tangxue is in trouble."

Since things have come to this point, it's best to say what needs to be said.

Xie Qianzhong's pen froze, and thick black ink dripped onto the pristine white paper: "What's going on?"

"Dong Zhao dragged the man into the alley," An Shiliu repeated emotionlessly.

The next second, the person in front of him had already left the door. When Xie Qianzhong found Song Tangxue, she was already lying on the door.

The maid in the neighboring courtyard was debating whether or not to send someone to the pharmacy.

Xie Qianzhong walked over with a cold face and glanced into the courtyard. Dong Zhao lay there unconscious, but he still seemed to be breathing.

Xie Qianzhong felt Song Tangxue's pulse; it was very slow. He then poured out the pills from his waist. An Shiliu hesitated, but ultimately concealed himself.

She let Xie Qianzhong stuff the hard-won pill into Song Tangxue's mouth.

"Go, wake her up by splashing her!" Xie Qianzhong picked up Song Tangxue, the mud on the ground sticking to her white clothes, which was very glaring.

Xie Qianzhong subconsciously reached out and wiped it, only to find that it had solidified on the hem of her clothes, and he didn't know how long she had been lying there.

After being splashed with cold water, Dong Zhao wiped his face and stood up: "Why did you splash me? If my grandfather finds out, he'll never forgive you!"

Several guards surrounded her. Xie Qianzhong, holding Song Tangxue, looked at her coldly. Dong Zhao was like a chicken with its neck being choked, stretching out its neck and freezing.

"Alright, let your grandfather come find me." Xie Qianzhong laughed, a laugh devoid of warmth, like a demon crawling out of hell.

A surge of resentment was still rising in my heart. These people were overstepping their bounds because of their status. Tsk.

"If he comes to me, he can explain the matter of the saltpeter powder and your unauthorized inquiries into my affairs." Xie Qianzhong raised his eyes, and whether it was Dong Zhao's imagination or not, his eyes looked even darker.

An endless darkness lay silent, yet within that darkness lay the impending storm.

"You're doing this for this woman! Xie Qianzhong, how could you have fallen for such a mortal? You still have a mission on your shoulders! You're no longer yourself!" Dong Zhao spoke recklessly, as if he knew he couldn't escape his fate this time.

"You can't protect her. I alone can kill her. You're surrounded by a den of dragons and tigers. If you hold onto her, she'll die right before your eyes sooner or later!"

"You deserve to be lonely and helpless your whole life. You can only succeed if you have no weaknesses. Grandpa won't let her live!"

A venomous curse clung to Xie Qianzhong's heart. His gaze towards Dong Zhao was anything but kind, his eyes filled with icy coldness: "Cut off her right hand and send it back over there."

An Shiliu accepted the order without hesitation, slashing with his knife, blood splattering and staining half of An Shiliu and Dong Zhao's bodies.

Holding the severed arm, An Shiliu left. Dong Zhao rolled on the ground in pain, looking at Song Tangxue and Xie Qianzhong with a venomous gaze: "I curse you both to die a horrible death. My grandfather will not let you go."

"Xie Qianzhong, how can your followers feel at ease if you act like this!"

"Drag her away." Xie Qianzhong was somewhat panicked for the first time, tightening his grip on Song Tangxue's arm. He used to think he could plan everything perfectly, but today's events were beyond his expectations.

The guards, standing like statues, covered Dong Zhao's mouth and nose, and led a few men over the dilapidated courtyard.

The blue carriage, summoned, slowly drove into the alley. The coachman, seeing Xie Qianzhong seemingly in a meditative state, called out, "Lord Xie?"

Xie Qianzhong snapped out of his daze, his face quickly returning to its expressionless state. He dug his fingertips into his flesh to bring himself back to his senses.

He exhaled a heavy breath, the cold morning air shrouded in a thin mist, creating an immediate sense of distance.

Before he could take a single step, a voice interrupted him: "Lord Xie?"

Xie Qianzhong paused for a moment, then reluctantly turned around. Li Zhaoxian looked at him in surprise, but when he saw the person in his arms, his eyes turned wary.

"Why is Lord Xie with my Crown Princess?" Li Zhaoxian narrowed his eyes, his servants surrounding the alleyway.

"Your Highness should ask yourself, not me." Xie Qianzhong gently placed Song Tangxue on the soft cushions of the carriage. "Has Your Highness figured out how to explain the appearance of thugs in the capital?"

Li Zhaoxian was clearly taken aback. He had only noticed that the person in the alley resembled Xie Qianzhong when he was passing by, and he had come to investigate to see what Xie Qianzhong was doing there.

Seeing from afar that he seemed to be holding someone in his arms, they couldn't wait to come over.

"A criminal?" Li Zhaoxian clearly didn't believe it; Song Tangxue looked as peaceful as if she had just fallen asleep.

“Miss Song still has injuries. I think the most important thing right now is not to dwell on this issue, but to take Miss Song back for treatment first.” Xie Qianzhong stood outside the carriage. “As for the security situation in the capital, Your Highness will have to put in more effort.”

They're practically pointing their fingers at him and yelling at him.

Li Zhaoxian's face darkened, but he remained somewhat rational and did not turn hostile. He walked to the front of the carriage, intending to take Song Tangxue away from there first.

An arm stretched out, clad in intricate black robes, with pale, taut knuckles: "Her condition is unclear, so let her take the carriage back. I'll have someone pick her up later."

Li Zhaoxian felt that something was wrong, but if he said it out loud and insisted on carrying Song Tangxue down, it would seem like he was doing it on purpose.

"Then I thank you, Lord Xie, for saving my Crown Princess." Li Zhaoxian subtly asserted her ownership; Song Tangxue was her Crown Princess, and she would be until death.

Xie Qianzhong lowered his eyes: "This is what I should do."

Li Zhaoxian and his attendants departed into the distance, and Xie Qianzhong glanced at him deeply: "Dark Sixteen."

Dark Sixteen appeared silently: "Investigate the Dark Guards and see who has such audacity."

No one knew about his affair with Song Tangxue except his personal bodyguards. Now it has actually leaked out to them. There is a traitor in the team he trusted.