An Ning was slightly taken aback: Is he stupid? He's already injured so badly, and he's still asking her questions.

Anning: "I'll help you down."

Mu Ange: "I'll carry you up."

peaceful:?

"Why are you carrying me up there? I'm taking you to hide in the grass over there for a while. Chen Xun should be able to take them all down soon."

On the other side.

Chen Xun was covered in bruises. He had initially thought they were just petty thugs, but they turned out to be quite formidable. After a few rounds, he found himself struggling to hold his own.

Glancing at Mu Ange out of the corner of his eye, Chen Xun couldn't stay calm: So, I'm the only one fighting to the death, while you guys are all lovey-dovey and dating?

Mu Ange glanced at Chen Xun: "Let's just leave. He can handle it."

He really couldn't hold on any longer. The injury on his back was more serious than he had thought, and it might not be good to delay any longer.

An Ning nodded: "Oh."

Mu Ange: "You can ride a horse, right?"

An Ning remained expressionless: "Yes."

"Come up."

Mu Ange extended a hand towards An Ning.

An Ning lowered her eyes.

That large hand was covered in bloodstains, and the bone seemed to be visible at the deepest part.

Anning pushed his hand back, braced herself in the stirrups, grabbed the saddle, and huffed and puffed as she mounted the horse.

Mu Ange just stared at her, reluctantly withdrew her hand, and smiled silently: "Stupid."

An Ning gripped the reins tightly and turned her head to say, "Hold on tight, or you'll fall."

Mu Ange obediently reached out and wrapped his arms around An Ning's waist. He had pinched that waist a few days ago; it was so slender and delicate that it could be grasped in one hand.

"Quick, catch up with him, he's trying to get away."

The steward shouted and hurriedly chased after Mu Ange.

Mu Ange leaned forward slightly, resting his head on Anning's neck and shoulder, his right hand sweeping across her waist and covering her cold hand that was holding the reins.

An Ning felt waves of heat coming from her neck; it was the heat from Mu Ange's breath, which seemed to travel down her collar and into her limbs.

When my cold hand was enveloped by that large palm, I could clearly feel the thin calluses on his palm. This feeling was subtly ambiguous to the extreme.

"drive."

Anning called out.

The horse, however, did not move an inch.

The leader was about to catch up.

Mu Ange slowly pulled on the reins, and the horse strode forward.

An Ning was a little confused: Isn't it supposed to be "Giddy up"? That's how it's portrayed on TV.

The assassins were hot on their heels.

Mu Ange sat on his horse, holding An Ning in his arms, and said lazily, "Just shouting won't work. You have to do it like this."

As she spoke, Mu Ange held An Ning's hand and explained all the key points of the movements.

Chen Xun protected them all the way, his sword practically sparking.

So, in such a critical moment of escape, even when some people are risking their lives, are you teaching the girl in your arms to ride a horse? And are you teaching her so seriously?

Mu Ange asked in a low voice, "Have you learned it?"

An Ning nodded: "I understand." No wonder she was always a step behind Chen Xun back then.

"Spread your legs naturally, don't squeeze the horse's belly."

As Mu Ange spoke, her half-closed eyes were fixed on An Ning's profile. Her fair and flawless face still had some downy hairs that still looked childish. Her eyelashes were long and delicate, and when she blinked, she looked incredibly innocent and cute. Her pretty nose was bright red, and her lips were incredibly moist.

"It should be very sweet."

Mu Ange said this as if possessed.

An Ning let out a soft "Ah".

"What's sweet?"

Mu Ange felt somewhat helpless, realizing she had inadvertently let slip what was on her mind.

"When turning, separate your hands and pull the reins on the side in which you are turning."

An Ning nodded: "Oh, okay."

The steward, who was hot on his heels, was about to swat at the horse's rump when the man suddenly swerved, causing him to fall flat on his face in the mud.

"Damn it, go after them!"

Mu Ange chuckled: "You've learned it, haven't you?"

An Ning smiled and said, "Yes, I can."

After dealing with the assassins behind him, Chen Xun quickly caught up and was shocked when he saw Mu Ange's back.

Blood flowed continuously from his back. His black robes did not reveal the severity of his injuries, but the Akhal-Teke horse beneath him was almost stained crimson with his blood!

"Your Highness!"

Chen Xun exclaimed in surprise.

As night fell.

They rushed back to the Third Prince's Mansion, taking a back path where no one saw them.

Chen Xun dealt with all the assassins on the way.

An Ning dismounted and went to help Mu Ange.

He forced a smile at An Ning, his eyes rolled back, and he fell off his horse.

An Ning gasped and quickly reached out to catch him. Suddenly, she smelled a strong stench of blood and her hand, which was supporting his back, felt sticky. She frowned and looked down; blood had stained her entire hand.

"Doctor, call a doctor quickly!" An Ning shouted, her eyes red.

Mu Ange was carried into the dormitory, while Anning waited outside.

The doctors all looked grave, and basin after basin of bloody fluid was poured out.

An Ning glanced at Mu Ange on the bed through the window.

He was unconscious and pale.

The wounds on his back looked like they were inflicted by a wild beast; claw marks ran from his shoulder down to his waist, so deep that the bone was visible everywhere.

An Ning squatted by the door, hugging his knees and burying his face inside: if his horsemanship were any better, he wouldn't have had to endure such a heavy ordeal while riding.

For the first time, Anning felt utterly worthless.

Originally, it was he who gave her the Golden Toad Gu. An Ning felt that she should resent him for making her suffer inhuman torment. But when Mu Ange risked his life to find the medicinal ingredient for her, all her resentment was overwhelmed by heartache and had nowhere to escape. She herself didn't understand what was going on.

"What should we do? The prince is holding on so tightly, we can't get it off at all."

The doctor inside seemed to be facing a very difficult problem.

Chen Xun broke out in a cold sweat.

An Ning wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, stood up, and went into the house. She asked, "What's wrong? Can I help you?"

"The prince has a wound on his chest that needs to be treated promptly, but he keeps covering it with his hand, and we can't pry it off no matter how hard we try."

Anning sniffed and asked, "Can I try?"

The doctor glanced at him and said, "You? Even several of us big men couldn't pull you away. You're so small and thin, don't make things worse here."

Chen Xun said, "No, let him try."

An Ning sat down on the edge of the bed, reached out and gently took his hand, trying to pry his fingers open, but as soon as she moved, his brows furrowed and his whole body was filled with a fierce aura.

The doctor said with a look of disdain, "I told you it wouldn't work."

Looking at his expression, An Ning seemed to understand something and whispered, "Your Highness, I am Xiao Ningzi. I know what you are protecting in your arms. It's safe now. We are in your residence. Don't worry, no one will come to take it away."

Upon hearing this, Mu Ange's tightly furrowed brows relaxed somewhat.

An Ning reached out her hand, and he did not resist.

Everyone was overjoyed.

An Ning took the thing in his arms and looked down at it. It was a lotus wrapped in the finest brocade, pure and innocent, elegant and holy.

However, the pure white petals were stained with blood, and An Ning knew that it was Mu Ange's blood.

He held that flower close to his heart, to his most vulnerable spot, yet it was still stained with blood. What kind of resolve did he need to bring it back? All for himself!

An Ning gazed at the flower, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably: "Mu Ange!"

All the myriad thoughts and emotions in my heart were transformed into a tender, reproachful yet affectionate call.