After hearing Jiang Bai's words, Jing Xi turned to look at him and said firmly, "Jiang Bai, we must both get out of here alive, and I will definitely take you out with me."
Jiang Bai looked at Jing Xi, who had a serious expression on her face. He knew that Jing Xi was serious and she was not joking at all. But it was really not easy for him, a dying man, to drag Jing Xi along.
Jing Xi picked up Jiang Bai again, looked around, and fled towards the western palace. The palace search was too strict now, so she had to hide Jiang Bai in a good place to conceal herself. Then, she could distract the guards and get medicine for Jiang Bai's wounds.
However, Jing Xi was too conspicuous carrying Jiang Bai, and soon the two of them ran into several searching guards.
"Who's there? Which palace are you from? Don't run!" The head guard shouted at the two suspicious-looking men.
Jing Xi sensed something was wrong. They were too close to the person with the high level of martial arts. If things got out of hand, that person might come over soon, and then she and Jiang Bai would have no choice but to surrender.
The best course of action now is to flee.
Jing Xi carried Jiang Bai and jumped onto the wall of the palace. Then, she ran forward desperately. She was getting more and more anxious. On the one hand, it was already dawn. If she waited until daylight, there would be nowhere for her and Jiang Bai to hide in the entire palace, and they would be in danger. On the other hand, she was not familiar with the palace. The two of them were running around like headless flies, and it was only a matter of time before they were caught.
Seeing the guards chasing her closely behind, Jing Xi had no choice but to stop, pick up her sword, and slash at them. With a swift stroke, two guards died under her blade. Jing Xi originally intended to end the lives of the other three, but the sound of their fighting seemed to attract the attention of the other guards.
Jing Xi frowned. She sensed that many people were coming in their direction, so she had no choice but to use a feint to kill one of the guards and then escape with Jiang Bai on her back.
The remaining two guards exchanged a glance. One of them continued to follow Jing Xi, while the other took out a signal flare from his pocket and launched it into the sky.
Cang Ling, who was nearby, saw the signal flare in the sky and immediately flew towards the direction from which it was launched.
Jing Xi also noticed the signal flare launched from the air. Oh no, their reinforcements have arrived.
Helpless, Jing Xi had no choice but to jump into a rather desolate palace. She gently pushed open the door of one of the palaces. Great, they haven't caught up yet. However, she had to find a way to distract them, otherwise, they would catch up soon.
Jing Xi put Jiang Bai down on the ground, then looked around the palace. It seemed to be a Buddhist temple, and Jing Xi saw that there seemed to be a person kneeling in front of the Buddha.
She drew her dagger and slowly walked toward the kneeling man. She wanted to see who was in such a remote palace so late at night.
Before Jing Xi could even get close, the kneeling man spoke up: "Who are you? What brings you into this palace?"
When Jing Xi realized that the other party knew about the two of them, she knew that the other party was not simple either; she knew martial arts, and her martial arts skills were not low.
Jing Xi could only clasp his hands and say, "I am truly sorry. We had no intention of intruding, but due to special circumstances, we hope to hide in the hall."
The sound of the wooden fish abruptly stopped. The person with her back to Jing Xi ceased chanting Buddhist scriptures and striking the wooden fish. She slowly stood up, her every movement displaying the demeanor of a noble lady.
When she turned around, Jing Xi and Jiang Bai were both surprised. "Your Majesty the Empress? What are you doing here?"
This palace is located in a remote area, and the Empress Dowager is of noble status—no, she should now be called the Empress Dowager. Given her high status, such a desolate and lonely palace should be completely out of place for her, yet she chooses to be here.
The Empress, who was also Ji Mosheng's mother, smiled at Jing Xi and said gently, "You must be Miss Jing Xi. I saw you at the Hundred Flowers Banquet before." The girl in front of her was decisive and resolute. She still remembered the girl's wonderful performance and forthright personality at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, as well as her shocking words of "one life, one love, one partner" and "I will never be a concubine."
This girl does resemble some of her younger self. Back then, she also fought against the Mongol army alongside her father. She was courageous and fearless. However, it has been too long since then, and she can hardly remember what she looked like in military uniform.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I was quite offensive just now, please forgive me." Jingxi said respectfully while kneeling on the ground.
"Nothing's wrong. How did you two end up in the palace, and why were you being chased?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Jing Xi and Jiang Bai exchanged a glance and could only tell the part they could tell about the cause and effect. The Empress Dowager was able to raise such an upright gentleman as Ji Mosheng, so she might help the two of them. If the two of them were to leave, they would surely die a horrible death.
Although they didn't know if the Empress Dowager would help them, they had no choice but to take the gamble, since they had no other options.
"Is that so? Then you two stay here for now, and I will cover for you." The Empress Dowager sighed and said. Ever since His Majesty arrived at the palace, he has become increasingly irritable and stubborn, and his personality has changed drastically. Because of her repeated admonitions, His Majesty has become increasingly disliked her. The two of them were originally a young couple, but they have actually come to this point.
Jing Xi hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"No need to be polite. Why don't you and this young master Jiang go to the inner room to hide?"
"Mmm." Jing Xi pulled Jiang Bai up and helped him into the inner room. When they passed the Empress Dowager, Jiang Bai weakly prepared to bow to her, but because of his own physical weakness, he had to give up.
Jing Xi helped Jiang Bai sit down on the bed. She looked at Jiang Bai's wound and saw that it was already showing signs of suppuration. Jing Xi was a little anxious. Jiang Bai's wound could not be delayed any longer. She looked at Jiang Bai, who was weak and leaning against the bed with his eyes closed, and said, "Jiang Bai, wait here. I will go and fetch the imperial physician for you."
Jiang Bai opened his eyes and hurriedly said, "Jing Xi, don't go out. It's too dangerous outside. I'm fine." Jiang Bai really didn't want Jing Xi to go into danger for him. There were guards searching everywhere in the palace. If she wasn't careful, she would be caught.
Jing Xi stepped forward and gently stroked Jiang Bai's face, saying, "It's alright, Jiang Bai, I'll be back safely."
Seeing that Jing Xi was about to leave, Jiang Bai gritted his teeth and said, "Jing Xi, even if you find medicine for me and heal these superficial wounds, I will still die. I am just a worthless life, and it is not worth you doing this for me."
Jing Xi was getting anxious. She stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Bai's collar forcefully, angrily asking, "Jiang Bai, what do you mean by that? What do you mean that even if these superficial injuries are healed, you'll still die!"
Seeing Jing Xi's anxious expression, Jiang Bai smiled gently and stroked Jing Xi's head, saying softly, "Don't be sad, Jing Xi. I just found out that I am actually a prince. I always foolishly thought that I was working for Prince An, but I never expected that Prince An was just a cover. All these years, I have been working for the old emperor. Jing Xi, I have done too many wrong things all these years. I have been giving him money and raising private soldiers for him. Now, this is my retribution."
Jing Xi gently touched Jiang Bai's lips with her hand and said, "You're not allowed to say that, Jiang Bai. I'll find a way. I'll go find you an antidote. You can't die, Jiang Bai. Didn't you say you'd marry me? Jiang Bai, don't you want to marry me anymore?"
Jiang Bai's body was too weak. He shook his head helplessly. How could he not want to marry Jing Xi? He dreamed of being with Jing Xi.
Unfortunately, it seems he's going to miss out on Jing Xi again this time.
Jiang Bai's head tilted to the side and he fainted. It was as if he saw his pitiful yet lucky twenty years, and these scenes floated before his eyes one after another.
Since Jiang Bai was born, he has never seen his mother or knew who his father was. When he was a child, he was taken in by an old beggar. The two of them depended on each other until Jiang Bai was five years old. The old beggar caught a cold and had no money for treatment, so he passed away, leaving Jiang Bai alone.
Jiang Bai was too young then; he didn't understand what death was. He only remembered that his grandfather had been sleeping for a long time. He just sat there blankly next to his grandfather, waiting for a very long time. Finally, a kind person came forward, checked his grandfather's breath, and said to Jiang Bai, "He's dead. Don't wait any longer."
At that time, Jiang Bai did not know what death was. He only knew that his grandfather would not wake up. In the end, Jiang Bai also fainted from hunger beside his grandfather.
When he woke up again, he saw Cang Ling and said, "Do you want to never go hungry again?"
Little Jiang Bai nodded blankly. Being hungry was too unbearable, and he didn't want to go hungry anymore.
Cang Ling looked at the nodding Jiang Bai and nodded in satisfaction. He took out a pill from his pocket, handed it to Jiang Bai, and said, "Eat this, and I will think of a way to make sure you never go hungry again."
Xiao Jiangbai reached out and took the pill, looking at Cang Ling with his dark eyes in confusion. Cang Ling gestured for him to eat it. Xiao Jiangbai didn't know what it was. He only knew that as long as he ate this, he wouldn't have to go hungry anymore.
"Good boy." Cang Ling praised Jiang Bai as he swallowed the pill.
"Are you hungry? Let me take you to eat." Cang Ling reached out to grab Xiao Jiang Bai, but Xiao Jiang Bai hid his hands behind his back, preventing him from pulling him. He looked at the old beggar who was already stiff beside him and said, "Grandpa hasn't woken up yet. I want to wait for Grandpa to go together."
Cang Ling glanced disdainfully at the beggar, who was already cold, and said coldly, "He's dead. He won't wake up again."
Xiao Jiangbai didn't understand what he meant. He only knew that his grandfather wouldn't go with him. He burst into tears and cried out, "I want to go with Grandpa!"
Cang Ling wanted to knock Jiang Bai unconscious and take him away, but looking at the panting Jiang Bai, she could only sigh and say, "How about I take you to buy something to eat?"
"Waaah, no, I want to eat with Grandpa!" Little Jiang Bai said stubbornly, looking at Cang Ling.
"That brat!" Cang Ling felt he had been too good to him. He grabbed Jiang Bai and tried to forcibly take him away. Little Jiang Bai burst into tears, and his cries attracted the attention of other people on the street.
People gathered around the two of them, whispering amongst themselves. Seeing Cang Ling's fierce expression, no one dared to step forward.
Cang Ling grabbed Jiang Bai and tried to leave, but the people who had just watched them surrounded him, and one of them boldly asked, "Who are you? Where are you taking him?"
Cang Ling glanced at the man disdainfully and said coldly, "It's none of your business, get out of the way."
After saying that, he wanted to leave, but seeing the situation, people around him rushed forward with axes, rakes, sticks and other weapons. Cang Ling glared fiercely at these lowly people. If it weren't for His Majesty's order not to make a big fuss, he would have killed them all.
Cang Ling immediately changed his attitude and said with a smile, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, everyone. I am a merchant. When I passed by, I saw this child crying sadly. I went up to ask and found out that he was an orphan. I have no children, so I wanted to take him away and make him my child."
"He's crying so hard, you must have forced him," said a bystander, looking at Jiang Bai who was covered in sobs.
"Yes, look at how this child is crying. Oh dear, it's so heartbreaking," an older woman nearby chimed in.
Cang Ling was furious, but he still put Jiang Bai down and asked gently, "Are you willing to leave with me? You won't have to go hungry anymore."
Xiao Jiangbai stubbornly pointed to the old beggar's corpse and said, "I want to be with Grandpa."
You brat, is that all you know how to say?!
However, seeing that more and more people were gathering around him, he had no choice but to compromise and say, "Fine, I'll take your grandfather with me, and we'll leave together."
Cang Ling stepped forward and “willingly” carried the old beggar on her back, then led Xiao Jiangbai by the hand, and left with a forced smile for the surrounding people.
Damn brat, he, the leader of the Great Yin's First Dark Guard, has never been so embarrassed before!
Cang Ling, leading Xiao Jiangbai, wandered east and west along the way until they reached the outskirts of the city. There, he threw the old beggar's corpse to the ground and said angrily, "Are you satisfied now?"
When Jiang Bai saw his grandfather fall, he quickly ran to his side and anxiously tried to help him up.
Cang Ling watched as the little boy tried his best to help up the old beggar who was despised by everyone. For a moment, he felt a little envious. Even such a beggar had someone who genuinely cared for him.
He gently squatted down, took out a steamed bun from his pocket, and said to Xiao Jiangbai, "Here, have some."
Xiao Jiangbai took the white steamed bun. He only remembered that his grandfather once brought him half of one to eat. It was fragrant, soft and delicious.
However, Xiao Jiangbai held the steamed bun in his hand but did not eat it. He gently broke off a small half and wanted to feed it to his grandfather, but his grandfather just wouldn't open his mouth. Xiao Jiangbai was so anxious that he tried to force the steamed bun into his grandfather's mouth.
Cang Ling, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore and said, "You eat it yourself. I'll give it to him when he wakes up."
Xiao Jiangbai then timidly glanced at Cang Ling, stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth, and wolfed it down.
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