Jiang Dinglian's thoughts raced. While the promise of protecting the emperor was tempting, if he made such a boast now, what if the Crown Prince mishap? Jiaqing would be devastated! He took a deep breath and chose the safest answer, his voice tinged with a father's worry: "Your Majesty, my daughter... possesses some esoteric skills, and might be able to protect herself. However... she has certainly never practiced martial arts, and her fighting and kicking skills are mediocre." He couldn't guarantee anything, so he could only state the facts and leave the judgment to the emperor.
The faint glimmer of hope in the emperor's eyes dimmed instantly, his face etched with disappointment. A weak woman with no martial arts skills, accompanied by her frail prince, more fragile than a glass lamp, in this perilous mountain forest, drenched in torrential rain... one could only imagine the danger.
Just as the atmosphere reached a freezing point again, a somewhat lazy yet clear voice rang out: "Your Majesty, your humble servant Yu Huanshen has something to say."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yu Huanshen strolling out from the ranks of civil officials. His brocade robe, though slightly damp from the rain, still couldn't conceal the elegant demeanor of a young man from an aristocratic family. He habitually twirled a warm jade pendant in his hand. His appearance surprised many, especially those from the Yang family and Xin Yiwei's side. Hanlin scholar Yu Han and his eldest son, Yu Zhuoxian, frowned inwardly—what was this youngest son, who had been idle and spent his days in poetry and wine, trying to say by stepping out now? The Yu family had always maintained a clear distinction from the Yongding Marquisate, and even subtly disdained the Jiang family's ways.
Yu Huanshen ignored the inquiring glances and bowed calmly to the emperor, his voice clear and clear: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report this. This afternoon, while chasing a herd of deer on the western side of the forest, I saw with my own eyes the Princess Jiaqing and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince traveling together. Although the Princess is a boudoir woman and untrained in martial arts, her archery skills are, from what I have witnessed, truly exceptional." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the blood-stained arrow from the Marquis' Mansion, and continued, "Today, she remained undaunted and killed the assassin with her own arrow. Her courage, insight, and loyalty have earned my deepest admiration! How can such a woman be considered an ordinary 'weakling'?"
He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious. "However, the assassins are fierce, their force is fierce, and their number is unknown. Although the county lady is an exceptional archer and her loyalty and bravery are commendable, she must protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince while also facing a powerful enemy... The difficulties and dangers involved are beyond the imagination of those of us sitting comfortably in the tent. The road to escape will surely be full of thorns!"
His words, while seemingly objective, are actually a dense foreshadowing of Jiang Songyi. He first affirms her loyalty and archery skills, then highlights the immense difficulty of protecting the prince, and finally emphasizes her predicament. The core point is this: no matter what happens to the prince, Jiang Songyi has done her best and should not be blamed.
Yu Han and his son exchanged a look of frustration, a complex mixture of frustration and frustration. This useless son, usually obsessed with melodies and ambivalent connections to any faction, actually spoke out today, for Jiang Songyi, at such a sensitive moment? And his words were so flawless that they were momentarily unable to refute him. Xin Yiwei, Lord Yang, and the others also looked at Yu Huanshen with a touch of scrutiny and amusement.
The emperor was in a state of turmoil. While Yu Huanshen's words made sense, his heart and eyes were preoccupied with the Crown Prince's safety. He could only wave his hand wearily, understanding. However, after hearing what Yu Huanshen had said, coupled with Jiang Dinglian's previous statement, he truly didn't blame Jiang Songyi at all. Instead, he felt a surge of gratitude—at least, she had tried to protect his son in such a critical moment.
Outside the tent, the mountain rain not only did not stop, but became more violent, hitting the tent with a dull roar, as if it was going to swallow up the entire Mount Li.
We can’t wait any longer!
"Issue an order! Order the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to lead the elite troops to search the mountain in the rain! The prince and Princess Jiaqing must be found! Alive, we must see them; dead... we must see their bodies!" The emperor's voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and deep fear.
The entire camp was instantly mobilized at the command of the emperor. Torches were lighted with difficulty in the pouring rain, then extinguished and relit, forming a sea of light that swayed and struggled in the wind and rain.
Jiang Dinglian and Jiang Yihuan, father and son, had already donned their straw raincoats and, accompanied by the Marquis's personal guards, rushed without hesitation into the dark, icy rain. Bai Linxi, remembering Jiang Yihuan's assistance during their encounter with a wild boar in the forest, felt obliged to follow suit. Surprisingly, Yu Huanshen also asked his followers for a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, silently joining the search. The rain quickly soaked the hem of his luxurious brocade robe.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, at the relatively quiet Bailu Academy compound, Li Tingzhen also learned from a classmate about the shocking changes in the camp and the disappearance of Jiang Songyi. His face suddenly changed, and without hesitation, he immediately gathered several familiar and reliable classmates.
"Grab the torches and ropes, and follow me! Let's go find Princess Jiaqing!" Li Tingzhen's voice was remarkably firm amid the pounding of the rain. He distributed tools, lowering his voice as his gaze swept across the group. "Remember! This matter concerns the Princess's reputation! Be extremely cautious in your search, and don't make any noise unless necessary. Especially... don't let those gossipers know we're going after the Princess!" He knew the weight of rumors, especially at this precarious moment, when so many forces were intertwined. He had to protect Jiang Songyi's reputation.
Braving the pouring rain, a group of young scholars, one foot deep, one foot shallow, plunged into the perilous darkness of the mountain forest. Tung oil torches crackled in the rain, their feeble light barely illuminating the muddy path beneath their feet. Beyond lay the boundless, devouring darkness. The rain was icy cold, yet within each of them, a fire burned—find her, must find her!
…
Outside the cave, dense raindrops pounded the jagged rocks with a relentless rustling sound, weaving a cold, damp web. The forest, still mild during the day, was suddenly struck by the chill at night, like an invisible ice snake, weaving its way into the simple shelter.
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