Chapter 242 This time it's Gu Li, your latest...

The Frost Festival continues.

Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, having completed her biggest task.

But thinking about what will happen next, my heart can't help but feel uneasy.

"Don't worry, Zhizhi, I will definitely protect you." Xie Qi's voice rang in her ear.

Jiang Zhi shook her head. "Their target today should be His Highness the Crown Prince."

Her gaze fell on the tall man sitting in the shadows not far away.

Xiao Xuanyou's injuries had almost healed, and he was now smiling as he looked down at the lively crowd, waving to them.

He was clearly a crown prince who cared for the people and shared their joys.

However, the unexpected happened right then and there.

There was something wrong with the fireworks being set off in the distance; one of them landed in the crowd.

The crowd dispersed noisily, drawing everyone's attention, and chaos erupted in the audience.

Just then, four men in black silently crept up behind Xiao Xuanyou and Lu Yuan.

If you look closely, you'll find that they are some of the Di people who kidnapped Jiang Zhi from Xuzhou to Yaocheng.

Those who were originally imprisoned in the secret cell were allowed to escape by Xie Qi deliberately creating a loophole.

Because the Frost Festival had sealed off the four city gates, they were temporarily unable to escape, and they also heard that Xiao Xuanyou was currently participating in the sacrificial ceremony in the city.

He then thought of assassinating Xiao Xuanyou, so that he could go back and make amends for his past mistakes.

To lure them into making a move, Xiao Xuanyou didn't even bring any guards.

With a clear objective, they simultaneously slashed at Xiao Xuanyou with their knives.

Lu Yuan immediately joined the fray, and the group engaged in a fierce battle.

Xie Qi then kept Jiang Zhi by his side as a bodyguard and also found Old Xu, telling him to find a place to hide.

"General Xie, how come there are Di people in Yaocheng?" Old Xu frowned, staring intently at the four people.

Old Xu was over sixty years old. His entire family had died at the hands of the Di people, and he hated them to the core. In the latter half of his life, he donated all his wealth to resist the Di people and to help the people of Yaocheng.

He enjoyed high prestige among the people of Yaocheng and naturally became the chief priest of the Frost Festival.

Xie Qi frowned deeply and was about to answer when he saw one of the Di people being forced back by Lu Yuan and arriving at their side.

Xie Qi subdued the Di man in a few moves, and stomped hard on his chest, saying, "Zhizhi, see what he's hiding on his person."

Jiang Zhi felt a chill run down her spine, clutching the secret letter she had prepared long ago tightly in her sleeve.

She pretended to search the Di man's clothes, letting the secret letter fall into her hand.

"Hey, there really is something!" she exclaimed.

The Di people didn't know what she had found. They pushed Xie Qi aside and tried to snatch it, but Xie Qi subdued them again.

The secret letter in Jiang Zhi's hand floated down to Old Master Xu's feet.

Old Xu picked it up and glanced at it briefly.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

His deeply lined face turned purple, he trembled with rage, and his cloudy eyes widened in anger.

“This, this letter is…” His lips trembled slightly.

"Old Xu, please give me this letter." Xie Qi reached out to ask him for it, but Old Xu took a step back and held the letter tightly in his hand.

"What does Elder Xu mean by this?"

Old Xu had already retreated to the edge of the altar. "Is it true that the Prince of Xiang colluded with the Di people on this letter? It has the secret patterns of the Helan tribe on it. I would rather die than be wrong!"

Xie Qi hesitated, "Give me the letter first, and we will investigate this matter."

"Investigation? Who ordered the city's garrison commander who was killed by General Xie last time? Is there any follow-up? Will this one also disappear without a trace like last time?"

Xie Qi feigned persuasion, "Old Master Xu, I believe the Crown Prince of Xiang has his reasons. Please trust the court's investigation."

"How can I believe this now?" Old Xu, clutching the letter, shouted to the people participating in the ceremony below, "The Crown Prince of Xiang has colluded with the Northern Barbarians and is in league with foreign powers. We beg Your Highness to uphold justice and give the people of Yaocheng the right to justice!"

Old Xu opened the letter and read its contents aloud.

The audience's attention was immediately drawn, and a commotion erupted.

The more I listened, the more shocked I became.

His face showed indignation and righteous indignation.

Which of the people who have lived in Yaocheng for generations does not have a mortal feud with the Di people?

Meanwhile, the Prince of Xiang, who was living a life of luxury in the capital, actually used the lives of the people of a city as a bargaining chip, colluding with the Northern Di, all for his own selfish desires!

Old Xu was highly respected in Yaocheng, and many people had benefited from his kindness.

Naturally, no one doubted what he said.

Many people present knelt down one after another, shouting towards the high platform, "We beg Your Highness to uphold justice and give the people of Yaocheng the right to justice!"

The sound was long and resonant, like a tidal wave.

Xiao Xuanyou and Lu Yuan had already subdued the assassin, who was now tied up and left aside.

He slowly walked over, took Jiang Zhi's hand, and led her to the edge of the high platform. He looked down at the people below with a cold and stern expression.

"The Holy Maiden and I will certainly investigate this matter thoroughly and give the people of Yao City an explanation."

Jiang Zhi couldn't help but turn her head to glance at him.

Although she was also involved in this matter, he was the crown prince, while she was just an orphan with a fake identity. Why should he drag her into it?

Just as doubts arose, the entire altar suddenly shook violently, accompanied by a series of creaking and groaning sounds, as if it were about to collapse.

Lu Yuan and Xie Qi on the altar suddenly changed their expressions.

The collapse of the altar was not part of their planned scheme at all!

The two of them headed towards Jiang Zhi without prior arrangement.

However, the three assassins who were originally bound somehow managed to break free of their restraints.

The assassin slowed their steps, and they watched helplessly as Jiang Zhi lost her balance by the altar and fell along with the collapsing structure.

"Azhi!"

"Zhizhi!"

The altar was very high. When Jiang Zhi fell, she instinctively reached out her hands, but grabbed nothing. All she could hear was the sound of the wind rushing past her ears.

But soon a figure caught her in mid-air.

Amidst the chaos, Jiang Zhi finally saw the man's face. Xiao Xuanyou's gaze was calm to the point of indifference as he stared intently at her, as if she were the only person he could see.

It felt like a long time had passed, yet it also felt like only a moment had elapsed.

With a soft "thump," Xiao Xuanyou landed on his back, serving as a cushion for Jiang Zhi.

After a muffled groan, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

Before Jiang Zhi could even frown and ask about his injuries, she saw his pupils shrink slightly, and he turned her around, pinning her beneath him.

Boom!

The altar above them collapsed completely, and pieces of wood and stone rained down, burying the two of them.

Jiang Zhi could only hear his weak breaths before he completely lost consciousness, "It's good, this time it's the closest I've been to you, Gu Li."

So, could you perhaps also pay a little attention to me, just like you were nervous about Lu Yuan?