The colleague closest to him opened his eyes and said, "There are still three days' journey ahead. We're not even sure if we'll live to see the Emperor. What ideas could we possibly have?"
"The assassin's target is His Highness the Crown Prince, what are you afraid of?" Another person turned over and yawned.
"That's not how it works. Swords have no eyes. We've successfully found the First Prince, and the Third Prince has long considered us a thorn in his side. What do you think he'll do to us?"
“You’re right. We’ve already offended him badly enough. When we get back, we’ll report him to the Emperor for harming his own brother. That’s a crime that will make it impossible for him to recover.”
"Yes, we must go back and complain to the Emperor. If Mo Ziyan, this cancer, inherits the throne, we will probably die without a burial place."
One sentence roused his sleeping colleagues, who were all gritting their teeth, wishing they could immediately return to China to punish Mo Ziyan.
The envoy who was sleeping at the innermost part sat up, clutching his bedding.
"Don't panic, everyone. His Highness said that when we cross the border tomorrow, his name will be hung on the top of the carriage. If he still sends people to assassinate us, then he will be admitting his guilt without even being asked."
Gong Xishuo's words comforted everyone, and everyone nodded in praise.
"I've seen it all along: His Highness is intelligent, kind to his own people, and ruthless to the bad guys."
"Yes, we need to talk to our colleagues about this privately when we get back. Those high positions should be held by virtuous people."
"We'll have to wait until we get back to plan everything. Everyone, get some rest." The candlelight in the room gradually dimmed, and Gong Xishuo glanced at the tightly closed doors and windows before lying down.
The farther Nangong Zeyue was from the capital, the stronger her longing for it became.
He carefully put away the storybook he hadn't finished reading, took out paper and a charcoal pencil, and sat down to write a letter.
Holding a pen in my hand, I have countless thoughts in my heart, yet I don't know how to put them into words.
She may still be that heartless woman after all; don't try to stir up the feelings in her heart again.
Perhaps it's best for her to let time fade away her feelings?
Nangong Zeyue hesitated for a long time before writing only six simple words on the paper.
Don't worry, you'll be crossing the border tomorrow!
The signature is Mo Zixuan.
After tidying up her paper and pen, Nangong Zeyue undressed and walked towards the bed.
It was around four in the morning.
A group of men in black emerged from the woods beside the official road like ghosts and headed straight for the town.
Under the silvery moonlight, the group of men in black quickly disappeared onto the official road.
When the group of men in black arrived outside the inn.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the night sky outside the inn, like the startled cry of a nightingale.
The sound of swords being drawn rang out, and the Black Dragon Pool disciples hidden around the inn leaped out from the shadows.
In the blink of an eye, swords flashed and shadows danced outside the inn, and the two groups quickly clashed.
As the crisp sound of swords clashing rang out, the Black Dragon Pool disciples, who had already taken a nap in the inn, drew their swords and rushed out upon hearing the noise.
Seeing that the enemy outnumbered them, the men in black prepared for a swift and decisive victory, launching a fierce attack with lightning speed.
The swords gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
The disciples of Black Dragon Pool were all highly skilled. They advanced together, calmly and steadily, and soon forced the men in black to retreat step by step.
The sword's edge shook the leaves on the trees, and as the Black Dragon Pool disciples fought with increasing ferocity, screams rose and fell, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.
The innkeeper and waiter were so frightened by the commotion outside that they trembled in their blankets.
The quick-witted waiter rolled off the bed and crawled under it to hide.
The envoys in the large communal room all sat up, their faces showing great fear.
"Don't panic, I believe His Highness's senior brothers can repel the assassins," Gong Xishuo reassured everyone, feigning composure.
"Yes, Your Highness has survived a great calamity and is destined for good fortune. He is the Son of Heaven, and will be protected by the gods." Someone immediately echoed.
The speaker's voice was trembling. The others didn't respond, but silently prayed that tonight would be like the previous nights, with no real danger.
Every time they heard a scream outside, they all shuddered involuntarily.
In the best room of the inn.
Nangong Jun stood at the window, holding a long sword, observing the battle situation outside.
Hearing the fierce fighting outside, Nangong Zeyue was wide awake.
He rolled out of bed and took the sword from the clothes rack.
"Your Highness! Don't act rashly."
Nangong Jun strode over to Nangong Zeyue's side and tightly grasped her right arm with one hand.
"Senior Brother, let me go out and take a look. I'm not at ease here. We have poison, so even if we can't win, we're not afraid." Nangong Zeyue was afraid that her senior brothers would be killed in the fight.
Those were his brothers who grew up together, closer than family.
"No, my master instructed that unless I die, no one is allowed to get close to you."
Nangong Jun's words were resolute, leaving no room for Nangong Zeyue to refute them, and his large hand, which was tightly gripping Nangong Zeyue's arm, showed no sign of loosening its grip.
Seeing that Nangong Zeyue was no longer arguing with him, Nangong Jun pulled him to the window.
“Look, our people have already gained the upper hand. Seventh Brother has the poison that Miss Jiang gave you. He will not hesitate to act when the time comes. Your going out will only make them more restrained.”
Nangong Zeyue lamented once again that he hadn't practiced his skills properly before, and that some of his senior brothers had been injured while protecting him.
My going out now has indeed made my fellow disciples hesitant to unleash their full power and go on a killing spree.
Looking at the flashing swords under the moonlight, he said, "Senior Brother, you should continue to train me. It's not good for me to always hide behind you."
"good.
"careful!"
Before he could finish speaking, a whooshing sound came from behind him. Nangong Jun pulled Nangong Zeyue behind him forcefully and swung his long sword.
"clang!"
A crisp sound of sharp weapons clashing rang out, and the flying arrow was knocked to the ground.
Nangong Jun quickly closed the open window and turned to blow out the candles in the room.
"Bang bang bang!"
Arrows from the shadows came flying in like meteors, all embedding themselves in the windowpane.
"Your Highness, please move to the seventh prince's room. The enemy has discovered your room."
Without saying a word, Nangong Jun pulled Nangong Zeyue toward the house across the corridor.
Outside the inn, the leader of the men in black saw that most of his own men were dead or wounded.
An archer rushed towards him, shouting, "Boss, the enemy is too cunning. Mission failed!"
The leader heard his companion's screams and noticed that the opponent's fighting style was strange, like a formation that had been practiced hundreds of times.
Seeing that there were only a handful of people left, and that the enemy was quickly closing in, the man in black twirled his sword and gritted his teeth, saying in a deep voice, "Retreat!"
The remaining men in black, like startled birds, disappeared into the vast night in a few leaps.
When the soldiers at the border guard post rushed over upon hearing the commotion, all that remained on the ground were mangled limbs and corpses; not a single one was breathing.
Inside the inn, as the sounds of fierce fighting outside subsided, the envoys' hearts were in their throats, and they all turned their gazes toward Gong Xishuo.
Gong Xishuo swallowed hard. "I...I'll go check on His Highness."
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