This mountain road was completely deserted, with no villages or shops in sight. Ruan Qingan couldn't help but frown as he looked out the carriage window and could see bandits surrounding the carriage.

They were dressed simply, with many patches on their clothes, and carried knives, looking fierce and menacing.

Ji Wuyu's expression was serious, but he still gently patted Ruan Qing'an's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, I'm here, nothing will happen. It's just that you're not in good health, so don't let these bandits scare you."

"Alright, Your Highness."

Ruan Qing'an spoke softly and gently until she saw Ji Wuyu step out of the carriage, at which point her expression suddenly turned ugly. In the original story, the original owner and her lover Sun Tianyuan left Cining Temple and encountered bandits on the way, and both of them died in the end!

As for Ji Wuyu, he was a "pitiful person". He was seriously injured in order to save the original owner. In the end, he "exerted all his strength" to bring the original owner's body back. Under the "pain and self-blame", he recognized Ruan Changhong as his adoptive father to fulfill his filial duty and secretly gained the support of the Yongle Marquis's Mansion.

What a loyal and righteous Ninth Prince!

Meanwhile, outside the carriage.

The bandit leader, with his bulging muscles and somewhat dirty tiger skin, exuded the aura of a mountain king. He held up his broadsword, the tip of which was pointed directly at Ji Wuyu, and shouted sternly, "Give me the money, or none of you three will get past me today!"

"I'm sorry, my wife is not in good health and can't stand this freezing weather. I don't want to make enemies with you gentlemen."

As Ji Wuyu spoke, he gave the coachman a wink, and the coachman immediately stepped forward with the money bag and carefully handed it over. Only then did the bandit leader snort coldly and open it to take a look.

Ji Wuyu continued, "I only came to Cining Temple today to burn incense and pray to Buddha; I didn't bring much wealth with me—"

"Do I care what you do?"

The bandit leader impatiently interrupted, took all the silver from the money bag, threw it on the ground, and stepped forward with his knife raised: "Don't fucking try to play tricks on me! How could you rich families only bring out this little bit of money!"

Ji Wuyu sighed softly: "We are going to a Buddhist sanctuary, not to a place where money is wasted, like a restaurant or casino."

But the bandit leader wouldn't let it go. He raised his hand, and the surrounding bandits stepped forward, surrounding the carriage: "I have no interest in hearing your explanations."

"Take out all the bracelets and chains you're wearing, I can still exchange them for money. Otherwise, leave this carriage and the lives behind!"

Ji Wuyu's eyes turned slightly cold: "One should be lenient when one can. Don't go too far. I just don't want my wife to be frightened."

"Heh heh, since that's the case, men, charge!"

For a moment, chaos erupted outside the carriage. Ji Wuyu immediately turned around and climbed into the carriage, while Ruan Qing'an's pretty face was pale and looked pitiful. He squinted his eyes.

But the strange light only flashed by for a moment, and Ji Wuyu immediately said anxiously, "Qing'an, grab my hand and let's escape first!"

"Yes, I understand..."

Ruan Qing'an reacted even faster than Ji Wuyu. She practically threw herself into his arms, her legs tightly wrapped around his lean waist, clinging to him completely.

Ji Wuyu was taken aback and subconsciously pressed down on her waist. Before he could speak, footsteps approached from behind. His eyes darkened, and he tapped the ground with his toes, putting one arm around Ruan Qing'an.

He gracefully left the carriage, and the carriage shattered under his internal force!

The shattered pieces of the carriage hurtled towards the surrounding bandits.

Freed from the constraints of the carriage and reins, the horse pulling the carriage neighed and reared up, about to gallop away—when Ji Wuyu caught her with one hand and landed directly on its back.

Ruan Qing'an instinctively hugged his neck and buried her head in Ji Wuyu's arms. The next moment, she felt the horse beneath her turn.

The horse's hooves kicked up clouds of snow and dust, which, reflected in the sunlight, momentarily blinded the approaching bandits, causing them to retreat hastily.

In the briefest of moments, the horse carrying its rider had already galloped several meters ahead. The bandit leader roared in fury, "Chase them!"

As the footsteps drew closer, Ji Wuyu put his arm around Ruan Qing'an's waist and whispered in her ear, "No, they're relentlessly pursuing us. We're not familiar with these mountain paths and could easily get lost. Your body can't take it either."

"Then what does Your Highness intend to do?"

"Hold on."

After saying this, Ji Wuyu placed the reins in Ruan Qing'an's hand and gently patted her back: "Qing'an, you come from the Yongle Marquis's mansion, so you should know how to ride a horse. Let's go first."

"Then Your Highness—"

Before Ruan Qing'an could finish speaking, Ji Wuyu leaped backward, turned and kicked the nearest bandit, snatched the long knife, and began close combat.

It seems that although Ji Wuyu has been neglected and humiliated by the royal family over the years, he still has his own plans in private. He may have even secretly learned martial arts and accumulated profound internal strength.

This is probably the source of Ji Wuyu's confidence in seizing power later.

With the constant neighing of horses, Ruan Qing'an pulled herself out of her reverie. She gripped the reins tightly, steadied herself, and galloped forward. When she looked back again, she saw Ji Wuyu blocking a number of bandits.

Her leaden eyes darkened slightly, and she coughed, "Giddy up—"

The next moment, the horse accelerated and charged forward again!

The winter forests were bare, with only snow piled up on the branches. Amidst the chaotic sound of horses' hooves and the approaching noise of people, the piled snow fell softly.

Ruan Qing'an lay half-lying on the horse's back, gripping the reins tightly. Cold air kept rushing into her lungs, and she could even taste a hint of blood.

This body's physical condition is really too poor...

She coughed violently, as if she were about to cough up her lungs, and the horse beneath her, losing control of its direction, wobbled back and forth, causing Ruan Qing'an to stagger.

Behind him came the bandits on foot. The bandit leader, who was leading the group, sneered. There was even a trace of blood on the saber he raised, as if he had already killed someone...

The bandit leader chased after her, yelling, "You damned woman, stop right now! All the rich young men you abandoned are dead by my blade! What are you running for?!"

"Stop now, and I might spare your life!"

She chuckled: "Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"

On horseback, Ruan Qing'an's expression remained unchanged, though her face was flushed with a sickly redness, clearly indicating that her frail body was nearing its limit and she could not hold on for much longer.

But it is a case of "If the King of Hell wants you dead at midnight, who dares to keep you alive until dawn?" The next moment, what appeared in front of Ruan Qing'an was a dense forest of thorns. In winter, there were only broken branches that could pierce a horse, and even the steed under his feet was unwilling to take another step forward.

She gripped the reins tightly, the horse's hooves rose high, and it turned around. Ruan Qing'an, however, was caught up by the bandits behind her, and was completely trapped!

The bandit leader laughed loudly and patted his blood-stained sword.

"Go ahead and run, you filthy woman!"

"……well."

Ruan Qing'an sighed softly, her throat, chilled by the cold air, felt like it was being torn apart. Her leaden eyes turned cold: "I'm not running anymore, because there's no need for it anymore."