Before long, Chu Lu arrived. He reined in his horse and stopped, pointing his sword forward.
"If you know what's good for you, leave Yue Jiang's body behind, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Chu Lu knew that he would not survive the day after killing Jing Yan, but serving His Highness was more important than his own life.
This area is not yet beyond the border and does not belong to either Jing'an or Jing'an. It would be best if no one controlled murder and robbery, including how the two countries handle their disputes.
Chu Lu wasn't confident he could kill Jing Yan himself, but he was determined to tear Yue Jiang, that femme fatale, to pieces to wash away the shame she had brought to Anguo.
Wei You laughed mockingly at the arrogant words: "It seems that your Prince Anguo is truly incompetent, unable to even manage an insignificant nobody like you. I think the one who should stay today is you."
Chu Lu was prepared to risk his life; he wanted to settle things with the blade in his hand. Without wasting any words with Wei You, he waved for the men behind him to rush forward.
Wei You also quickly charged forward, and the two sides were locked in fierce combat. There were not only the sounds of blades clashing, but also blood splattering in the dust.
Yue Jiang stared at the chaotic battle in the distance, unable to understand why An Chenghuan had suddenly sent people to ambush and kill her.
Could it be that he harbors resentment because he can't have her? Didn't he use his paintings to sow discord between her and Jingyan?
Yue Jiang was, after all, a princess of the Yue Kingdom. If she didn't want the Yue Kingdom's money anymore, why was she being so ruthless?
"Your Highness, how can An Chenghuan be so terrifying? He wants to kill me," Yue Jiang said, not really afraid. The people Jing Yan brought were all fresh off the battlefield with him, and the situation was very favorable.
"I won't let them hurt you," Jing Yan reassured Yue Jiang, while also wondering why An Chenghuan would suddenly send people to chase after them.
He knew he couldn't take Yue Jiang away on the spot, and there was no chance left, unless he knew that Yue Jiang had amnesia and was giving him a warning.
This is a warning to him about the grudge of having his wife stolen, and today's mockery.
What's strange is how An Chenghuan found out, and why he found out at this time?
Could there be a traitor within the Jing Palace?
Both sides had about two hundred men each. Jingyan's side, having just been on the battlefield, was clearly stronger than Anguo's, and soon most of the opposing side fell.
Chu Lu fought recklessly, and even though Wei You was more skilled than him, he still suffered quite a few injuries.
Taking advantage of a brief respite in the chaos, he shouted, "Your Highness, Chu Lu and his group are reckless! You should leave first to avoid being caught in the crossfire!"
Rong Ying was watching the battle from another carriage. Upon hearing this message, he hurriedly went to Jing Yan and offered his advice.
"Your Highness, there's no need to bother with these desperate criminals. Why don't we take Princess Yuejiang and leave first?"
Jing Yan stared at the billowing yellow smoke ahead, his eyes calm and silent for a long time, until Yue Jiang gently tugged at his sleeve and called him "Your Highness" in a trembling voice. Only then did Jing Yan smile silently.
"Jiang'er has been inseparable from me all day, but she has been frightened one after another. I'm afraid she won't dare to go out with me again in the future. Let me calm Jiang'er down!"
Since Yue Jiang had met An Chenghuan and hadn't done anything to harm Jing Yan, Rong Ying had let go of her resentment towards her.
He glanced at Yue Jiang meaningfully and teased, "Your Highness has learned to do things to please people now."
Upon hearing this, Yue Jiang glanced at Rong Ying. This person seemed different from the one she had met at the inn.
He was aloof in the inn, his eyes seemingly able to read people's minds, but he was very gentle with her.
Jing Yan took out the bow and arrows that he had carefully stored away in the carriage, took the bow and another arrow, and walked out of the carriage. He stood in front of the carriage seat, drew the bow, and aimed at the vast yellow smoke in front of him, searching for Chu Lu's figure flashing within it.
In response to Rong Ying's earlier words, "An Chenghuan dared to send Chu Lu to ambush and kill them, so he never intended to let this group go back. You also said that they came to their deaths."
“I am unwilling to disregard human lives like An Chenghuan. They are all soldiers who fought alongside me. Unless absolutely necessary, I am willing to abandon them. How can I be their crown prince and be worthy of their trust?”
Finally, Jing Yan aimed at Chu Lu's back, and with a whoosh, he released the bowstring. The arrow, carrying a sharper force than the golden hairpin, flew powerfully towards Chu Lu.
The arrow pierced his heart through his back, causing the blade Chu Lu had just raised to fall to the ground with a thud.
He staggered two steps, his body soaked in blood, and with his last strength turned to look at the person who shot him.
Unfortunately, he was blinded by rage, and everything in his sight was a blood-red mess. He couldn't make out who it was before he collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.
Chu Lu is dead. The remaining dozens of Anguo people are leaderless. Some, not wanting to die a gruesome death, slit their throats, while others flee towards Anguo.
Jing Yan had no interest in this band of desperate bandits and ordered, "Treat the wounded and get back on the road."
After resting on the spot for half a day and getting everything ready to go, all that was left was a pile of yellow smoke covering the corpses.
...
After traveling for several days, Jing Yan returned to Pingkang City with Yue Jiang.
The triumph that came after forty years of frustration always brings a lasting sense of joy.
Not long after entering the city, I witnessed a scene of distributing scriptures.
As Yue Jiang and Jing Yan walked through the street, these people who were receiving scriptures not only recognized Jing Yan's carriage, but were also bolder than ordinary people, surrounding the carriage with familiar laughter.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"May Your Highness be well!"
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The voices of the elderly, young, men and women rose and fell, and Jing Yan, sitting in the car, seemed to know them well, lifting the curtain to respond to them.
"Please be kind, everyone. Do not surround the carriage to avoid accidental injury."
Yue Jiang peered out through the corner Jing Yan had lifted and discovered that the group of people were either disabled, very old, or elderly with young children.
She asked curiously, "Your Highness, who are they?"
Yue Jiang had a gut feeling that these people were not ordinary people.
Before Jing Yan could even open his mouth, a woman in plain clothes walked straight over from the scripture stall. When she reached him, she curtsied to the person inside the carriage and said, "Su Yun greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Jing Yan turned around upon hearing the voice and nodded slightly to the other person: "Princess Cheng."
Cheng Suyun straightened up and exclaimed at the coincidence: "Your Highness's return to the capital today is truly a coincidence. I am currently distributing scriptures. Would Your Highness like to join me?"
As she spoke, she smiled, her eyes subtly glancing further inside, and sure enough, she saw half of a beautiful face, guessing it must be Yue Jiang.
She had never had the chance to ride in the same carriage as His Highness before someone else took it, even taking her place as Crown Princess. She clenched her fists to steady herself and maintain her composure.
“Princess Cheng is kind-hearted. I have important matters to attend to upon returning to the palace. They trust you, so I’m sorry to trouble you,” Jing Yan declined Cheng Suyun’s request and turned to leave.
Cheng Suyun did not make way. Before the curtain fell, she took the initiative to ask Yuejiang, "Your Highness, Princess Yuejiang has not seen the sights of Jing Kingdom since she came here. Why don't you let Princess Yuejiang and Suyun get out of the carriage and take a stroll?"
Jing Yan glanced at Yue Jiang, who stared at him blankly. Last time, Jing Yi ran back to Jiaofang Palace from Empress Dowager Cheng's place and caused trouble. It was hard to say that Cheng Suyun was innocent.
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