Chapter 311 I Won't Let You Be Bullied by the Crown Prince for Nothing

His expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't see anything wrong with doing such a thing.

Jiang Zhi, on the other hand, looked uneasy and tried to pull her finger out.

But Xie Qi grabbed her wrist.

He was kneeling on the ground, while Jiang Zhi sat on an embroidered stool, slightly taller than him.

His moist, bright red tongue gently licked her injured fingertip, while his dark, sharp pupils were wet and watery as he looked up at her, his gaze both devout and sticky.

The breath brushed against her fingertips, making her heart tremble uncontrollably.

"It's all better now." Jiang Zhi felt a flush on her face and forcefully pulled her hand back.

Xie Qi didn't mind. After letting go, he got up and sat down opposite her. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to give you a surprise. I didn't expect it to hurt you."

"It's nothing," Jiang Zhi poured him a cup of tea. "General Xie, what brings you to Qingfang Palace so late?"

Xie Qi picked up his teacup and took a sip before telling her about what Xiao Xuanyou had discussed with him.

Jiang Zhi frowned. "You mean, I want to go with you now?"

"Yes, change your clothes first. I'll rescue you and have you fight Xiao Xuanyou's men before dawn, then I'll let you return to the East Palace." Xie Qi took out a set of servant's clothes for her.

Jiang Zhi nodded in agreement and went to the inner room to change her clothes.

When they came out, they saw Xie Qi still sitting there, holding his teacup, without moving.

"Is there anything else?" Jiang Zhi asked him.

Xie Qi looked at her again with his moist, peach-blossom eyes, "It's so hot, what did Zhizhi add to the tea?"

Jiang Zhi's voice was indifferent, "Hot water, add whatever you want to drink."

Xie Qi couldn't help but smile and stand up. "Let's go."

He stepped forward and wrapped her from head to toe in his cloak, then put his arm around her waist and, with a leap, flipped her over and out of the courtyard.

Not far away, the spy who was keeping watch outside Qingfang Palace felt a chill run down his spine.

General Xie actually took Princess Qinghe away.

We must inform our master about this matter as soon as possible.

Xie Qi carried Jiang Zhi across the walls of the East Palace, and even with another person by his side, he remained as light as a swallow.

However, the Eastern Palace has always been heavily guarded, and no matter how skilled Xie Qi is in martial arts, it is impossible for him to take someone away silently without being noticed.

However, Xiao Xuanyou had given orders that everyone should turn a blind eye to this matter, so Xie Qi brazenly disguised Jiang Zhi as his servant and took her out of the East Palace, where they boarded a carriage that had been prepared in advance.

"Where are we going now?" Jiang Zhi asked him from inside the carriage.

Xie Qi said as he drove, "We can't go back to the Marquis of Wuyi's residence. Let's leave the city first."

Jiang Zhi then remained silent.

Xie Qi then said, "Zhizhi, do we look like we're eloping?"

"What does General Xie want to say?" Jiang Zhi asked.

Xie Qi's voice was carried away by the night wind, slowly entering her ears, "His Majesty has not yet decided what reward I will receive for the military merit of subduing the Northern Di, and has asked me to suggest it myself."

“I can ask His Majesty for a fiefdom, and we can live there together, far away from the people and things of the capital. In the fiefdom, no one can surpass you in status, and you can do whatever you want. Zhizhi, do you want to be with me?”

Such a life is indeed enviable, but Jiang Zhi did not agree. "Young Master Xie, I have already refused you."

“I know, but I still want to try, after all, you and I were in the cave... I have to take responsibility.”

Jiang Zhi blushed. "Didn't I say? Let's pretend that never happened and don't bring it up again."

Xie Qi obediently agreed, "Okay, but I won't forget."

The two soon arrived at the city gate.

Xie Qi took out his token and ordered the guard to open the gate. When the guard saw that the person who came was none other than the famous General Xie, he hurriedly let him pass.

The carriage left Kyoto without any hindrance.

After driving for a while, Xie Qi, worried that Jiang Zhi might get tired, stopped in the dense forest and let her come out to have a drink of water and rest.

Soon, the sound of pursuing horses' hooves could be heard in the distance.

Xie Qi knew that the Crown Prince's men had followed them.

Tsk, they came really fast. It's like they were afraid he and Zhizhi would stay a little longer, so they really ran away with someone else.

"You go back to the carriage first, I'll deal with them." Xie Qi's expression was cold.

Jiang Zhi nodded, knowing that Xie Qi would be alright, and walked towards the carriage with peace of mind.

It was too dark for her to see clearly. She only heard a "rip" sound as her clothes were caught on a tree branch at the shoulder and torn open instantly.

Xie Qi couldn't help but chuckle, "How could you be so careless?"

As he spoke, he draped the cloak he was holding over her shoulders.

But soon, his eyes sharpened.

Xie Qi had excellent eyesight and could see even in the dark. On the exposed skin on Jiang Zhi's shoulder, there were several faint teeth marks.

Xie Qi's expression immediately changed.

Under the guise of tidying her clothes, he disregarded how impolite his actions were and looked down at the back of her neck, where he noticed numerous marks on her collarbone!

Jiang Zhi has been in the East Palace for the past few days.

It goes without saying who left these things.

But the Crown Prince clearly told him that Zhizhi was there voluntarily and that he had never forced her!

Is this what he meant by not forcing?

He discreetly covered her figure with his cloak and helped her into the carriage.

"Zhizhi," Xie Qi's cold voice came before the carriage curtain was lowered, "I won't let you be bullied by the Crown Prince for nothing."

Jiang Zhi was somewhat confused. "What?"

The carriage curtain was lowered, and the pursuers arrived quickly.

Xie Qi didn't say anything more, and turned to look at Wen Quan, who was leading the team from afar.

"General Xie, this is someone from our Eastern Palace. Please release her, or we will have no choice but to be impolite to you."

"I'd like to see just how impolite you are!" Xie Qi scoffed coldly, refusing to waste words with them, and lunged forward.

The two sides immediately engaged in fierce combat.

The night was deep, and the clanging of swords against each other was particularly jarring in the woods.

Xie Qi came from a military background, and his swordsmanship was as sharp as if it were wrapped in thunder.

Even when surrounded by a dozen experts, he was not at a disadvantage.

Wen Quan knew that there must be someone following and spying behind him, so he fought Xie Qi with real swords and spears.

But he soon realized something was wrong.

They held back and didn't use their full strength, but General Xie seemed to be serious, and every move he made was a killing blow. If it weren't for their superior numbers, there would probably have been casualties long ago.

While the two swords clashed, Wen Quan whispered, "General Xie, the time is almost right. Now, as long as you pretend to be injured by me, we can leave with the county princess."

However, Xie Qi narrowed his eyes, his expression cold and stern, "Show me your true abilities, I want to see who can take her away from me!"

Wen Quan frowned. How come this is different from what the Crown Prince had agreed upon?

He realized what was happening.

General Xie, do you perhaps want to back out and really take Princess Qinghe away to a distant land?

He knew inwardly that something was wrong.