Chapter 13 Saving lives requires the right timing; offering help in times of need is what truly makes a lasting impression.
On the official road in the mountains outside Beijing, a horse-drawn carriage slowly moved forward in the twilight.
Inside the car, Su Qingci was leaning against the soft cushions, lost in thought.
The two maids opposite her were fast asleep, their breathing even and deep, but she couldn't fall asleep at all.
After eighteen years, her father finally remembered that she was his eldest daughter.
Her mother died during childbirth when she was born.
While she was still an infant, she was branded with the stigma of being "unlucky for her father and mother" and was sent by her father to her maternal grandparents' home in Jiangnan overnight, where she stayed for eighteen years.
Over the years, her father has never written her a single letter.
Now, however, he suddenly remembered that she was his eldest daughter and sent someone to bring her back to the capital to discuss marriage.
But she felt inexplicably uneasy, always feeling that behind this belated "fatherly love" lay an unknown conspiracy.
She recalled her grandmother holding her hand and repeatedly admonishing her before she left: "Qingci, be careful in everything you do when you return to the Prime Minister's residence. Your stepmother, Madam Xu, and your sister are definitely not good people."
But now that he is all alone, can he really live peacefully in the prime minister's mansion surrounded by wolves?
"Miss, the post station is just ahead. Let's rest for a while."
Just then, the driver turned around and called out, interrupting her thoughts.
Just as Su Qingci was about to respond, she suddenly heard a rapid sound of horses' hooves coming from behind.
Just as she was about to lift the curtain to check, the carriage suddenly lurched, nearly throwing her off her seat.
The coachman shouted sternly, "Miss, be careful! There are bandits robbing the road!"
The two maids were startled awake, their sleepy eyes still showing confusion as they looked at her helplessly.
Su Qingci forced herself to remain calm and abruptly lifted the carriage curtain.
As dusk fell, four or five masked men dressed in black rode closer on horseback.
This is already under the emperor's nose, in the heart of the capital region, how could there possibly be mountain bandits?
The leader of the men in black locked his gaze on her at a glance and hissed, "It's her! Leave no survivors!"
Before he finished speaking, several steel knives simultaneously slashed at the carriage!
With the wooden planks of the carriage shattered and wood chips flying everywhere, the people inside were immediately exposed to the robbers' view.
Su Qingci's pupils contracted sharply, and she hurriedly retreated, barely managing to dodge the attack.
A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head; this was no ordinary robber!
They had a clear objective and acted ruthlessly; they were obviously after her!
The two maids were terrified and huddled together, crying and screaming.
Then, the knife swung down again.
"drive!"
The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage suddenly accelerated, barely dodging the second wave of attacks.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain...
Li Yuanzhao sat on his Akhal-Teke horse, coldly looking down at the foot of the mountain.
Even though the situation below was already dangerous enough, and Miss Su looked like she was about to die under the broadsword, she remained completely calm.
Ru Mo's eyes flashed with anxiety: "Your Highness, shall we make a move now? I'm afraid Miss Su won't be able to hold on for much longer."
"What's the rush?" Li Yuanzhao's lips curled into a cold smile. "Saving people is all about timing. Offering help in times of need is what people remember most."
The sounds of fighting could be faintly heard from below the mountain.
The dilapidated carriage was seen fleeing wildly along the official road, but it was no match for the speed of the light cavalry.
A large knife came flying through the air and struck the coachman squarely in the back.
"Ah!" the coachman screamed and fell off the carriage.
Blood splattered on the carriage curtain, staining it a glaring red.
The carriage also went out of control and crashed into the ancient trees by the roadside.
At the critical moment, Su Qingci gritted her teeth and jumped off the vehicle, landing heavily on the muddy ground.
The carriage crashed into a tree trunk and instantly broke apart; the fate of the two maids was unknown.
Ignoring the pain, she got up and ran into the woods.
"Chase her! Don't let her get away!"
A fierce shout came from behind.
But two legs are no match for four. Before long, the black-clad assassins surrounded him, trapping the slender figure in the center.
The lead assassin raised his broadsword, and Su Qingci closed her eyes, awaiting death.
She knew she probably wouldn't live to see the moment she stepped through the gates of the Prime Minister's residence...
"Whoosh—"
Instead of the expected pain, a scream was heard.
Su Qingci suddenly opened her eyes and saw that there was a feathered arrow stuck in the throat of the masked man in front of her.
The arrow's fletching was even trembling slightly.
The man's eyes widened in disbelief before he fell straight down.
"Who goes there?!"
The other men in black instantly looked around in panic, standing back to back on guard.
But then a group of people slowly emerged from the woods.
The woman at the head of the group was dressed in red riding attire and carried a longbow made of Phoebe zhennan wood.
That arrow just now was clearly shot by her.
"Who...who are you?" A man in black asked, his voice trembling as he tried to remain calm. "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. Do you know who's behind us..."
Li Yuanzhao didn't even lift his eyelids, his gaze sweeping lightly across the scene before he raised his hand.
"Kill them all, but leave one who can talk."
The guards rushed forward immediately, and in the blink of an eye, the three men in black fell to the ground before they even had a chance to scream.
The remaining one was so terrified that he threw the steel knife to the ground with a clatter and knelt down on his knees.
Su Qingci stared blankly at the scene, unable to move, until a pair of deerskin boots embroidered with gold thread patterns stopped in front of her.
"Thank you so much, Miss, for saving my life."
She then came to her senses and hurriedly tried to kneel down to express her gratitude, but due to her foot injury, she stumbled and almost fell.
Li Yuanzhao glanced at her with downcast eyes, "Can you leave?"
Su Qingci bit her lip and nodded.
Li Yuanzhao ignored her and said, "Rumo, clean it up."
Just then, a horse-drawn carriage slowly drove up.
Six snow-white horses stood proudly in front, while the carriage behind them was gilded and as spacious as an ordinary courtyard.
The frame is made of purple purlin wood, the curtains are made of silkworm silk, and the carriage shafts are carved with lifelike dragon patterns.
Li Yuanzhao turned around and got into the carriage.
Su Qingci stood to the side, somewhat at a loss.
He hesitated for a moment, then instinctively wanted to follow.
Ru Mo directly reached out and blocked her way.
Her Highness is known for his cleanliness, and Miss Su is covered in blood and dust; how could she possibly ride with him?
"Let her come up."
Li Yuanzhao's calm voice came from inside the carriage curtain.
Ru Mo was taken aback, then respectfully stepped back.
Su Qingci carefully stepped onto the footstool and boarded the carriage.
The moment she lifted the carriage curtain, she involuntarily held her breath.
The interior of the carriage was covered with snow-white fox fur, and the walls were hung with all kinds of weapons such as daggers, short knives, bows and arrows, and whips.
In the very center stood a small rosewood table.
An incense burner and teacups were placed on top, with wisps of smoke rising and emitting a refreshing fragrance.
There was even a bookshelf in the corner, with various bamboo scrolls neatly arranged on it.
Li Yuanzhao was leaning against a soft pillow, flipping through a book in his hand.
Seeing Su Qingci enter, she casually tossed a snow-white handkerchief to her.
"Wipe it clean."
Su Qingci caught it in a flustered manner.
The handkerchief was incredibly soft.
She carefully wiped the dust off her face, her curiosity about the woman's identity growing stronger.
"Do you know who wants to kill you?" Li Yuanzhao suddenly asked.
Su Qingci shook her head blankly.
Li Yuanzhao scoffed lightly: "Fool."
Su Qingci blushed instantly upon hearing this, but had no way to refute it.
If it weren't for the person in front of her saving her, she would have already lost her life, with no one to voice her grievances.
Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she hesitated, "Could it be... my stepmother? My father summoned me back to the capital to discuss marriage, is it because I'm blocking her daughter's path?"
Li Yuanzhao then looked up at her, but did not say a word.
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