Chapter 47: The Prince's Secret Order, Killing Halfway

The carriage chugs along the suburban gravel road, making a gurgling sound. The evening light filters through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the carriage. Yun Zhi leans back against the cushions, clutching the plum blossom hairpin containing the secret letter, her fingertips icy cold. Xie Heng says they'll reach the mass grave in half an hour, where he's arranged a "stand-in" corpse. By disguising the body as her own and throwing it into a dry well, they can create the illusion of an "accidental drowning." Then, they can transfer to another carriage and leave the capital overnight.

"Don't worry," Xie Heng sat opposite her, bandaging the wound on her wrist that had been scratched by Zhang's servant. His tone was gentle but firm. "Once you leave the capital and reach my villa on the outskirts of the city, you'll be safe. I've already sent people to look for clues about 'Uncle Liu' and the dilapidated temple in the western suburbs. One day, I'll be able to clear the Yun family's name."

Yun Zhi nodded, but her heart was heavy. She remembered the man in black's words, "The prince has ordered that we kill without mercy," and Xiao Jin's cold face. Her heart felt like it was being clenched tightly, and even breathing hurt. Did he really hate her so much? So much that he wouldn't even allow her to escape, and was determined to kill her?

"Brother Xie," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Tell me... why did Xiao Jin want to kill me? Was it because I sneaked into the study, or was it because... he really believed that I was pregnant with Brother Xie's child?"

Xie Heng paused as he bandaged his hand, then looked up at her, his eyes filled with heartache. "Don't think about it. He's not worth your time. No matter why he wants to kill you, I will protect you and will never let him hurt you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the carriage suddenly shook violently, followed by the driver's scream: "There's an assassin!"

Xie Heng's face suddenly changed. He immediately drew the dagger from his waist and shouted to Qingzhu, "Protect Yunzhi and don't make a sound!" Then he lifted the curtain of the car and jumped out.

Yunzhi and Qingzhu huddled tightly in the carriage, hearing only the clanking of weapons outside, the roars of guards, and the screams of men in black. Qingzhu trembled with fear and clutched Yunzhi's hand tightly, "Miss, what should we do? Will we die here?"

Yun Zhi was also afraid, but she knew she couldn't panic now. She fished out the small dagger Xie Heng had given her for self-defense from her sleeve, gripping it tightly in her hand while staring at the curtain with a wary look.

Suddenly, with a "swish," the curtain was slashed by a long knife, and a masked man in black rushed in, pointing the long knife directly at Yun Zhi! Qing Zhu screamed and rushed forward, but was kicked away by the man in black. She slammed heavily against the wall of the carriage, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

"Aunt Yun, I'm ordered to take your life!" The man in black said in a hoarse voice, and was about to stab Yun Zhi's chest with a long knife.

Yun Zhi closed her eyes, convinced she was doomed, but then she heard a sharp clang—Xie Heng had rushed back just in time, blocking the long sword with his dagger. His arm was still bleeding, clearly injured in the fight. His face was pale, but he still stood in front of Yun Zhi, his eyes as cold as ice. "If you want to hurt her, you'll have to get past me first!"

The man in black snorted coldly and shouted outside, "Don't waste time, fight quickly and decisively! The prince has ordered that everyone be killed without mercy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, three more men in black rushed over and surrounded Xie Heng. Xie Heng fought one against four, his dagger dancing swiftly, but his arm was injured and his strength was gradually fading. Several more wounds appeared on his body, and blood soaked his moon-white robe, making it look shocking.

"Thank you, brother!" Yun Zhi looked at him and was so anxious that tears fell from her eyes. She wanted to rush out to help, but was held back by Qingzhu.

"Don't go, girl! You'll only be a burden to Doctor Xie if you go!" Qingzhu cried, "What should we do? All the guards have been knocked down, no one can save us!"

Yun Zhi watched Xie Heng's struggles grow, watched the long knife in the black-clad man's hand approach his vitals again and again, and despair washed over her like a tide. She suddenly remembered Xie Heng's "faked death" plan, her father's secret letter, and the unrequited blood feud—she couldn't die, and neither could Xie Heng!

She looked around the carriage and saw an oil lamp in the corner. Suddenly, she had an idea. She picked up the oil lamp and, while the men in black were focused on Xie Heng, she slammed it into the back of one of them!

The oil lamp shattered with a crash, splashing oil all over the man in black, and flames instantly ignited. The man in black screamed and rolled over, and the others in black were also startled by the flames and paused.

Xie Heng seized the opportunity and stabbed a man in black in the chest with his dagger. The man fell to the ground, breathless. But the remaining two men in black were even more frantic, their long swords hitting him with deadly blows. Xie Heng gradually lost his strength and was kicked in the chest by a man in black. He fell heavily beside the carriage, spitting blood.

"Brother Xie!" Yun Zhi rushed out like crazy, threw herself beside Xie Heng, and tried to help him up.

"Don't worry about me... run..." Xie Heng said weakly, pointing his finger at the woods in the distance, "Run over there, I've arranged someone to pick you up..."

But the men in black had already caught up. The leader grabbed Yun Zhi by the hair, pulled her up, and held a long knife to her neck. He sneered at Xie Heng and said, "Doctor Xie, do you think you can protect her? The prince has ordered that she must die!"

"Let her go!" Xie Heng struggled to get up, but another man in black stepped on his chest and he couldn't move.

Yun Zhi looked at Xie Heng's pained expression, at the long knife at her neck, and suddenly smiled—a smile of desolate despair. She looked at the leading black-clad figure and said in a hoarse voice, "You said... Xiao Jin asked you to kill me? Does he really hate me so much that he won't even let me leave?"

"How can you question the prince's orders?" The man in black's eyes were cold, and the long knife moved closer. A sharp pain came from his neck, "Prepare to die!"

Yun Zhi closed her eyes, waiting for death to come. She remembered her mother's last words, the child she had lost, and Xiao Jin's face, a face she both loved and hated. Only endless sadness remained in her heart—her life, after all, could not escape the fate of being ruined by him.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from a distance, accompanied by loud shouts: "Stop! Stop it!"

The man in black was stunned for a moment, then turned to look in the direction of the sound. Yun Zhi also opened her eyes and saw a group of people galloping towards them from a distance. The leader was wearing black clothes, with a mask on his face, holding a long spear in his hand, looking very imposing.

"Is it reinforcements?" Qingzhu asked weakly, holding onto the carriage.

Xie Heng also raised his head and looked at the troops getting closer and closer, with a hint of doubt in his eyes - he didn't arrange so many people to support him, who are these people?

The masked leader quickly arrived and, with a wave of his spear, knocked the long knife from Yun Zhi's neck away. He then shouted to the people behind him, "Capture all these people in black! Don't let any of them escape!"

His men immediately rushed forward and engaged the men in black. Outnumbered, they were quickly subdued. The masked leader walked up to Yun Zhi, bowed slightly, and spoke respectfully, "Madam Yun, you're frightened. I'm here to rescue you on the orders of an old friend."

"Old friend?" Yun Zhi was stunned. "Who is the old friend you are talking about?"

The masked man did not answer, but turned to Xie Heng and said, "Doctor Xie, you are injured. I have prepared a carriage and will take you to a safe place to recover."

Xie Heng looked at him, his eyes full of vigilance: "Who are you? On whose orders are you coming to rescue us?"

The masked man still refused to reveal anything, insisting, "When the time comes, you will know. We can't stay here any longer. If anyone else comes, we will be in trouble."

Yun Zhi looked at the subdued man in black, then at the mysterious masked figure before her, her heart filled with confusion. Who was this "old friend"? Why had he saved her? Was Xiao Jin's "kill order" real? Or was someone using Xiao Jin's name to silence her?

Countless questions flooded her mind, making her dizzy. But she knew that now was not the time to ask. She supported the injured Xie Heng and nodded to the masked man: "Okay, we'll go with you."

The masked man had Xie Heng helped onto the prepared carriage, and then had Qingzhu get on board as well. He then instructed his subordinates, "Keep an eye on these men in black, take them back to the other courtyard for interrogation, and make sure to find out who sent them."

"Yes!" the subordinate responded.

The carriage began to move again, this time much smoother than before. Yun Zhi sat in the carriage, looking at the injured Xie Heng and the gradually darkening sky outside the window. Her doubts grew deeper and deeper—who was this mysterious "old friend"? Was his appearance a blessing or a curse?