Chapter 91 Risking my life to save him... My heart is now filled with...
That night, the moonlight witnessed two souls, each with their own thoughts, sinking into desire.
As dawn broke, Ah Qi was already fully prepared. He stood by the window, gazing at the gradually brightening sky in the distance, his eyes clear and devoid of any trace of the intoxication of the previous night.
"It's time to get going." He turned to Fangru on the couch and said in a calm tone, as if he were talking about something ordinary.
Fangru gazed at his cold profile; the lingering warmth of last night's intimacy still flowed through her fingertips, but his eyes now held a depth she couldn't comprehend.
Unbeknownst to her, this trip, seemingly facilitated by her sacrifice, was actually part of his long-planned scheme. The exact date of the Northern Khan's inspection of the horse ranch was precisely the opportune moment he had been waiting for.
Everything was under his control, without the slightest error.
A month ago, after his spies reported that Prince Arslan was willing to accept Zhou Muchen's surrender, Zhou Ling laid this trap.
He activated a hidden pawn, the advisor Hadan, who had already been bribed.
A secret order instructed Hadan to poison the prince at the opportune moment and then cleverly frame Fangru, who happened to be present.
This scheme, which killed two birds with one stone, not only eliminated the most capable prince of the Northern Barbarians, but also deprived Fangru of her last support, leaving her with no choice but to turn to "Aqi" as her only lifeline.
And now, the drama is about to reach its climax.
He ordered Xia's assassins to kill the Northern Di Khan by posing as Western Rong people, and then had Hadan "accidentally" discover evidence that the Western Rong had framed Xia.
At that time, the Northern Barbarians and the Western Barbarians will clash, and the Great Xia will be able to reap the benefits.
At noon, Zhou Ling, posing as A Qi, brought Fang Ru to the Lone Wolf Horse Ranch.
Upon arrival, they saw a caravan from the Great Xia Dynasty unloading goods and negotiating with the people from the horse farm.
Ah Qi's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, realizing that this was indeed a caravan of Xia Kingdom assassins in disguise. He remained expressionless, but his grip on Fang Ru's arm tightened slightly, as if he were simply protecting her as they navigated the commotion.
From a distance, the main tent at the horse ranch still looks like a huge traditional grassland tent, but inside it is a completely different world. The space is extremely open, even divided into two levels. Countless compartments and corridors form a complex maze. Relying on the flickering oil lamps for lighting, the light and shadows are swaying, adding a touch of eeriness.
What surprised Fangru even more was that today was the day the Great Khan of the Northern Barbarians would suddenly come to inspect! The royal tent was heavily guarded, and the armored guards with swords in hand had eyes like hawks, scanning every approaching figure.
"Why is the Great Khan here today?" Fangru asked, her voice trembling with barely suppressed tension as she peered through the gaps in the clutter at the magnificent figure surrounded by a crowd in the distance. She instinctively shrank back. "The guards are too tight... Should we come back another day?"
Ah Qi's gaze quickly shifted from the distant sentry post to her slightly pale face.
He didn't immediately refute her, but instead turned slightly to the side, using his broad shoulders to block some of her possible gazes, creating a relatively secluded space.
“Okay.” He answered without hesitation, his voice low and steady. “If you feel uneasy, we can back out now. There will always be other opportunities.”
Beneath the shadow of his veil, a barely perceptible smile played at the corners of his lips. The plan was already in place; whether he was present or not, the poisoned arrow would strike the Northern Khan's heart precisely on time.
His straightforwardness surprised Fangru.
He gave her the complete choice, which strangely calmed the panic churning in her heart.
She looked up again, gazing at the heavily guarded area.
Thinking of the wanted poster he carried, and the imminent war between Xia Kingdom and Bei Di... retreating might mean losing all his previous efforts, and leaving his fate to be controlled by others.
Her fingernails dug deeply into her palm, and the slight stinging pain brought her back to her senses.
She took a deep breath, as if to suppress all her fear. When she looked up again, although there was still a trace of fear in her eyes, there was also a resolute determination to burn her bridges.
“No,” she shook her head gently, her voice soft yet carrying an unwavering strength, “today. But… how are we going to get in?”
A faint, almost imperceptible hint of approval seemed to flash across Ah Qi's deep eyes.
Without saying anything more, he immediately turned his gaze to a group of servants being driven towards the stables to transport hay in the distance.
“Come with me,” he whispered, his arm naturally protecting her side as he led her nimbly behind a pile of clutter.
He quickly tore two worn-out outer garments off the railing, handed her the slightly cleaner one, and took the more filthy one for himself.
"Put it on, head down, and stay close to me." His instructions were still concise, but his movements were incredibly swift. In a few quick motions, he wiped the dust off his face and neck, perfectly concealing his striking features.
He grabbed two heavy bundles of hay, handed the lighter one to Fangru, and carried the rest himself. With a slight hunch, the imposing martial artist vanished, leaving only a weary servant, weathered and worn, struggling to make a living.
He even glanced at her briefly while bending down, his eyes seeming to say, "See, it's simple. Trust me."
Fangru no longer hesitated, quickly put on a coarse cloth outer garment, tucked all her black hair into her cloth hat, and imitated him by slightly hunching her back.
They mingled at the back of the hay-carrying team, heads down, mimicking the way those in front of them, and trudged heavily toward the most heavily guarded inner area.
Fangru's heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel the guards' scrutinizing gazes sweeping over their backs as if they were real.
Ah Qi, however, appeared unusually calm. He even slightly adjusted his breathing, making it heavy and tired, perfectly blending into his surroundings.
Just as they were about to pass through the checkpoint at the inner entrance, a guard leader suddenly stepped forward and stopped the person in front of them for questioning.
The line came to a halt, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Fangru's fingertips were icy cold, and she subconsciously looked at Aqi beside her. At that moment, under the cover of the hay, he gently squeezed her wrist. That brief but firm contact strangely dispelled some of her panic.
The head guard waved his hand, letting the people in front pass, his gaze immediately falling on the two unfamiliar faces. Ah Qi coughed twice at the opportune moment, his shoulders hunching even lower, and mumbled in heavily accented local dialect, "Sir, the newcomers… the steward wants them sent in quickly…"
The leader frowned, about to question them in detail, when suddenly the neighing of a fine horse and the clamor of a crowd came from afar, as if the Khan wanted to see the newly arrived steed.
The leader's attention was drawn to it, and he waved his hand impatiently: "Hurry up and go in! Don't block the way!"
Having passed through that entrance that felt like the gates of hell, Fangru's back was almost soaked with cold sweat.
The inner area was more spacious, and in the distance, the magnificent robes of the Northern Khan were faintly visible in the sunlight on the open ground. The guards surrounding him were like silent reefs, exuding a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.
Ah Qi maintained his posture of carrying hay, his gaze seemingly lowered, but in reality, he was quickly scanning the surrounding environment.
The layout of the tents, the distribution of guards, the blind spots in sight. Without pausing for a moment, he protected Fangru and followed the fodder transport team towards the stable.
Passing by a corner where saddles were piled up, he keenly spotted a middle-aged man who seemed to be in charge.
He lowered the brim of his hat, took a few steps closer, and asked in a thick, local accent, "Sir, excuse me, where is Brother Tuoqi? He instructed me to come find him today, saying there's an urgent job..." As he spoke, he subtly turned to the side, completely blocking Fangru from his line of sight with the steward.
The steward, already on edge due to the Khan's inspection, impatiently pointed to an inconspicuous, low entrance on the side of the main tent: "Inside! Find it yourself! Don't get in the way!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Ah Qi thanked him repeatedly, bowing even lower, and pulled Fang Ru along as they quickly walked towards the entrance.
Beyond the entrance lies not a smooth path, but a deep, dark space composed of countless thick felt mats, wooden frames, and leather ropes connecting and dividing the space.
The light suddenly dimmed, with only a few scattered oil lamps casting swaying, dim yellow halos, cutting out a labyrinth of light and shadow in the passageway filled with tools and clutter.
They proceeded cautiously along the outside of a relatively wide passage, next to which a heavy felt curtain was not fully lowered, leaving a narrow gap.
Just as they were about to pass by, a steady, familiar voice clearly came from the crack:
"...Your Majesty, the Emperor of our dynasty takes this matter very seriously and has ordered a thorough investigation. All the evidence shows that the woman from Xia Kingdom had absolutely no possibility or motive to poison Prince Arslan. There must be some hidden story. We hope that Your Majesty will give us more time to investigate thoroughly and not to start a war lightly because of the instigation of villains, which would lead to the suffering of the people of both countries and rivers of blood!"
It's Yan De!
The Great General of Xia Kingdom, the benefactor and husband who gave her respect, stability, and warm protection in her fifth life through a proper marriage!
Fangru's steps froze on the spot, as if she had been seized by an invisible force.
My heart felt like it was being clenched tightly by a giant hand, then suddenly released, pounding wildly against my chest, bringing a dull, aching pain.
Almost involuntarily and extremely slowly, she turned her head to the side, her gaze greedily fixed on the crack.
The space within the gap appears to be a temporary meeting place.
She could see Yan De's tall and straight back, dressed in the familiar Xia Kingdom military uniform, bowing slightly to the Northern Di Khan above him, his words earnest, yet his demeanor befitting a great general.
That mere glimpse of her back was enough to awaken all the long-dormant memories of "home" and "security" within her heart.
The Great Khan of the Northern Barbarians sat at the head of the table, his face shrouded in shadow, and only his cold, hard voice could be heard: "General Yan, you need not say any more! Evidence? The evidence I see is that the prince has died suddenly, and the Xia woman has vanished without a trace! If it weren't to ensure the uninterrupted supply of warhorses to the Lone Wolf Horse Ranch, I would not have come here in person today! The matter of war is beyond your or my ability to stop!"
The war has begun... the horse farm supplies... Fangru's heart sank.
Yen-teh was still trying his best to fight for her, but the wheels of war were already rolling forward.
A complex mix of gratitude, guilt, and helplessness surged up like a tide, overwhelming her reason.
She stared blankly at that figure, her eyes welling up with tears uncontrollably, her breathing becoming shallow, as if afraid of disturbing the person inside the curtain, or as if wanting to firmly imprint this moment of support in her heart.
Just then, a large hand suddenly gripped her wrist with such force that her slender bones felt a pressing pain.
Ah Qi had somehow gotten very close to her from behind, his warm chest almost touching her back.
"Very well." He sneered inwardly. This was exactly what he wanted to see. The more upright and reliable Yan De appeared, the more completely his death would sever Fang Ru's hopes.
He had already instructed the leader of the assassins to kill this Xia general in the chaos.
Now, we're just waiting for the perfect moment.
He lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his breath carrying a hint of cold mockery, breaking her gaze:
"What? Reliving old memories, unable to move on? Looks like I, this 'bastard,' have held you back. Shall I lift this curtain for you right now, so you can rush in, pour out your grievances to your old friends, and express your loyalty?"
Every word he spoke was sharp and icy, instantly waking Fangru up.
She suddenly realized that Yan De was already in a dangerous situation, and if she were to expose herself due to her momentary weakness, it would not only harm Yan De, but also immediately push her into an abyss of no return.
Almost instinctively, she shook her head violently, even pressing her body closer to the warm and dangerous body behind her.
She looked up at Ah Qi's eyes, which were so close to hers, and saw a dark anger surging within them.
She spoke quickly in a whisper, audible only to the two of them:
"No! I won't go! What nonsense are you talking about... I... I only have you in my heart now."
Ah Qi stared at her, a slow, ambiguous smile curving his lips, a smile that held both knowing mockery and a dangerous playfulness.
He gripped her wrist with his thumb and began to gently rub the delicate skin of her wrist. The touch of the calluses sent a shiver down his spine.
"Hmph," he snorted softly, his voice low and hoarse, "Shen Fangru, you woman, you'll tell any lie against your conscience to achieve your goal."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across her forced composure, finally settling on her trembling lips.
“However…” He suddenly leaned closer, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive skin, bringing a tingling sensation. “I find your lie… quite enjoyable.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't give her any chance to respond or struggle. He tightened his grip on her hand, almost half-embracing her, and forcefully led her away quickly.
In the instant he turned away, he glanced one last time at Yan De's retreating figure behind the curtain. "I'll let you live a little longer."
The two moved quickly through the narrow passage, precisely avoiding any side roads that might be guarded.
The surrounding light flickered, and only the oil lamp cast their shadows, which were stretched and distorted on the felt wall.
Finally, after passing through a low doorway with a tattered leather curtain hanging over it, the view suddenly opened up, and a rich aroma of life mixed with the smell of fermenting hay wafted towards them; they had arrived at the stable area.
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of the outer passageway, the interior of the stable was exceptionally spacious, with thick wooden pillars supporting the ceiling and dividing it into dozens of wide-open partitions.
The snorting of the horses, the clattering of their hooves, and the occasional shouts of the groomsmen blended together to create a peculiar background sound.
Many grooms were busy feeding the horses, brushing their manes, and cleaning the stables, seemingly not stopping their work entirely because of the distinguished guests in the distance.
Ah Qi quickly scanned the entire room, his gaze like the most precise sieve, filtering through every figure.
He lowered his hat brim again, hiding his face in deeper shadows, and then stopped a young groom who was walking by carrying a bundle of fresh alfalfa.
"Brother, could you please ask?" He hunched his back slightly, making his voice sound hoarse from exhaustion and with a hint of flattery, "Where is Brother Tuoqi? He instructed me to come over at this time, saying there's an urgent job at the hay shed that needs help."
The young groom, his face covered in hay, stopped impatiently. He glanced at Ah Qi and Fang Ru, who was following behind him with her head down. Seeing that they were wearing coarse cloth shirts from the stable and had been carrying hay, he didn't suspect anything. He gestured with his chin toward the deepest part of the stable: "Look, go in, to the corner where the hay is piled up. He was just fiddling with something there, acting all mysterious."
"Thank you, young man." Ah Qi said no more. While thanking her, he naturally turned to the side, held Fang Ru's hand tightly again, and led her quickly into the depths of the stable.
The deeper you go, the dimmer the light becomes, with only a few rays of sunlight shining down from the ventilation openings above, forming beams of light amidst the floating dust and grass.
The haystacks, piled high like golden hills, almost touched the roof. The air was filled with the dry, slightly musty smell of hay dust, making it a bit choking to breathe.
In a relatively secluded corner, partially surrounded by haystacks, they spotted their target: a short, stocky man dressed similarly to the groom but in more worn clothes, with his back to them. He didn't seem to be tidying up the hay, but rather carefully kicking some scattered straws to a certain spot, as if covering something up.
Ah Qi's eyes suddenly sharpened like knives.
He gently squeezed Fangru's hand, signaling her to stay in the shadows. He then moved like a black panther locking onto its prey, his footsteps so light they made no sound, using the haystacks as cover to quickly approach.
When he was only three steps away from the man, he suddenly accelerated and sprang into the air!
Toki seemed to sense the wind behind him and was about to turn around when a large, iron-like hand grabbed him by the back of his collar. An irresistible force slammed him onto the rough haystack! The dry straw rustled, and bits of grass flew everywhere.
Startled by the sudden attack, Toki turned his head in horror and met a pair of eyes hidden in the shadow of a hat brim, yet still icy and chilling.
Ah Qi's face was mostly hidden in the shadows, only his taut jawline and icy voice, as cold as frozen earth, delivered a deadly, oppressive blow: "Speak! What does Prince Arslan's death have to do with you?"
The color drained from Toki's face instantly, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his voice became high-pitched and distorted as his collar tightened: "Good, good man... spare me! You... you've mistaken me for someone else! I... I'm just someone who feeds horses and carries fodder... what prince... how... how could someone like me possibly know!"
His denial was hasty and chaotic, his eyes darting around, filled with fear, but deep within that fear, something else seemed to be hidden.
Ah Qi tightened her grip on his collar, her knuckles cracking slightly as she strained, almost snapping the man's thin neck: "Don't know? I have a hundred ways to make you talk."
In that tense standoff, when the air seemed to freeze!
"boom!!!"
A deep, thunderous roar, yet with a sharp, tearing sound at the end, suddenly came from the direction of the main tent!
The sound was so loud, it seemed to explode right next to our ears, and the whole earth trembled violently!
Years of accumulated dust and hay dust fell from the ceiling like snowflakes.
Immediately following were the ear-piercing sounds of weapons clashing violently, the mournful neighing of warhorses after being startled, and the terrified screams, roars, and chaotic running sounds of the crowd!
The chaotic noise swept through the entire racecourse like a tsunami.
This sudden and earth-shattering change startled Fangru, who had been anxiously watching Ah Qi, so much so that her whole body trembled violently, and her heart almost jumped out of her throat.
In extreme panic, she acted almost entirely on instinct, rushing forward two steps and tightly hugging Ah Qi's waist from behind, burying her pale face in his taut back as he exerted himself, seeking the only sense of protection she could feel.
"Ah Qi!" Her voice trembled uncontrollably and she cried out.
Ah Qi's tall and straight body stiffened almost imperceptibly the moment she hugged him, and the hand gripping Tuoqi's collar unconsciously loosened its grip slightly.
The explosion and chaos at the main tent meant that the most crucial and dangerous part of his plan had been activated, but the play he was currently putting on to help Fangru clear her name of murder suspicion and gain her trust in him was equally crucial and could not be allowed to fail.
"Stay here! Don't move!" He made a quick decision and shouted at Fangru, who was pressed against his back, without turning his head.
At the same time, he shoved the almost limp Tuoqi into the haystack, turned around and darted like an arrow to the stable door. Under the cover of the thick door frame, his sharp, hawk-like eyes quickly scanned the situation outside.
Thick smoke billowed from the direction of the main tent, with flickering flames visible!
The well-disguised "Xia Kingdom merchant caravan" had unleashed their hidden weapons at some point and were fiercely fighting with the Khan's guards who had just reacted. The shouts of battle, explosions, and the screams of the dying were deafening.
The scene was extremely chaotic, and the originally tight security perimeter was torn apart by this sudden attack.
Fangru suppressed her heart palpitations and cautiously approached the other side of the door. Seeing this scene that resembled a battlefield, she was filled with shock and doubt: Could this caravan be assassins sent by the Xia Kingdom?
However, they were clearly outnumbered. The Khan's guards were all elite soldiers, handpicked from the best. Their reckless attack, even if it caused temporary chaos, would ultimately lead to their annihilation. This was clearly a suicidal attack!
She couldn't help but glance at Ah Qi's resolute and cold profile, her whisper filled with confusion: "Why...why are they doing this? Isn't it like throwing an egg against a rock..."
Ah Qi's gaze swept quickly across the battlefield, lingering briefly at several key locations where "goods" might have been placed. His brows furrowed, as if he were confirming something.
However, unlike Fangru, he did not immerse himself too much in observing and analyzing the external war situation; his vigilance was mostly focused on what lay behind him.
Almost the instant Fangru finished speaking, he abruptly withdrew his gaze, as if he had a premonition of something. He turned around abruptly, his cold gaze once again falling on the corner piled with hay.
In that brief interval of less than half a cup of tea, the man who had just been shoved into the haystack in terror now collapsed limply to the ground as if his bones had been removed.
His head was tilted to one side, a trickle of dark red blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his eyes were wide open, but his pupils were completely unfocused and had lost all their luster.
His right hand hung limply to the ground beside him, and near his fingertips, a broken, hollow wax ball, about the size of a little fingernail, lay quietly among the dust and grass clippings.
He committed suicide by poisoning himself!
He personally gave the order: if there is any risk of exposure, immediately take poison and leave no survivors.
So decisive, so swift!
Ah Qi quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and pressed two fingers precisely on the side of Tuoqi's neck, feeling a cold, lifeless touch.
He withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the haystack that Toki had just leaned against, and the faint drag marks on the ground nearby that had been hastily swept but still showed signs of being different from the surrounding area.
He subtly smoothed out several obvious marks with his feet, and then re-pressed down several deliberately loosened areas at the bottom of the haystack to make it look more natural.
This Tuoqi is certainly no ordinary groom!
He was a spy lurking here, an inside man to support that "caravan"! He was also a pawn personally placed by Zhou Ling.
His task was to use his position to help them secretly place those incredibly powerful "Crimson Flame Thunder" in key locations in the horse farm in advance, such as... the cellar near the main tent, or deep inside the stable filled with flammable hay, like here!
Unaware that Ah Qi was Zhou Ling's accomplice, and seeing that things might be exposed and being interrogated, in order to faithfully carry out the emperor's secret order to "take poison immediately if there is a risk of exposure," he did not hesitate to bite into the poison pill he had prepared in advance, sacrificing himself for his country and completely cutting off the clues to the investigation.
After completing these discreet clean-up tasks, ensuring that they wouldn't attract unnecessary attention from those who came after him, Ah Qi stood up, his voice low and cold, revealing no emotion:
"Dead."
Fangru looked at the glaring black and red stain on Tuoqi's lips and the tiny wax pellet rolling on the ground, and felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, making it hard to breathe.
A person, just like that, decisively ended their life right before her eyes… Her voice trembled slightly with lingering fear: “He… how could he…”
Just then, the sounds of fighting outside seemed to grow even closer, and one could even hear the "thud" of arrows piercing the air and striking nearby wooden pillars!
"Now... what do we do?" Fangru's voice trembled as she gripped Aqi's sleeve tightly. The sounds of fighting and explosions outside not only didn't stop, but intensified, as if the entire horse farm was about to be overturned.
Ah Qi frowned, listening intently to the sounds outside.
Just then, a more muffled yet more destructive roar came from the direction of the main tent! This was followed by a series of explosions, the earth shook, and the scorching air waves even swept towards the stables with smoke and dust!
"It's 'Crimson Flame Thunder'!" Fangru's expression changed drastically, her voice filled with undisguised fear. In her memories of her fourth life, she had personally witnessed the power of this domineering firearm, capable of scorching the heavens and boiling the seas, leaving behind a scene of carnage after the deafening roar.
She stared at the thick smoke in the distance, and suddenly a clear understanding dawned on her.
The "Crimson Flame Thunder" used by the Xia Kingdom caravan was clearly the same type of firearm commonly used by the Baiyang Society. It seems that these people had planned this beforehand, with an inside agent planting the "Crimson Flame Thunder" somewhere in the horse farm beforehand, so that it could be used immediately after the caravan entered. This is how such a devastating explosion could be created before the Northern Di guards could even react.
The Northern Di guards, who had been barely able to maintain their formation, crumbled instantly under the earth-shattering force.
The sturdy tent was torn apart, wood and stones flew everywhere, flames soared into the sky, and screams filled the air.
The caravan members, like tigers released from their cages, took advantage of the defenders being disoriented by the bombing and stormed into the core area of the main tent!
The racecourse was in complete chaos.
Whether they were guards from the Northern Barbarians, servants at the horse farm, or people like Aqi and Fangru who were in disguise, in the eyes of those bloodthirsty members of the Xia Kingdom's "caravan," anyone who wasn't one of their own was to be killed without mercy.
Meanwhile, several charred craters had been blasted into the open ground outside by the "Crimson Flame Thunder," and raging fire was engulfing hay and tents, blocking most of the paths leading out of the horse farm.
"Go! Retreat inwards!" Ah Qi made a decisive move, gripping Fang Ru's hand tightly. Instead of trying to break outwards, he used the thick smoke and chaos as cover to retreat deeper into the horse farm buildings, to an area relatively far from the main battlefield.
They crouched low, moving quickly through the ruins and burning debris.
All I could hear were arrows whistling past, the muffled thuds of weapons piercing bodies, and the wails of the dying.
Several times, they almost ran into the caravan members who were searching for them. It was only thanks to Ah Qi's extraordinary alertness and agility that he was able to detect the danger in advance and quickly hide behind overturned shelves, broken compartments, or huge water tanks with Fang Ru.
Finally, in a corner that seemed to be a storage area for cleaning tools and was partially obscured by a collapsed screen, Ah Qi suddenly pulled Fang Ru in. The two pressed themselves against the cold wall and held their breath.
The view from here is relatively concealed, yet one can still observe parts of the outer hall through the gaps.
The once spacious and luxurious hall was now in a mess. The Northern Di Khan, General Yan De, and several other people who appeared to be prominent figures of the Northern Di were all bound with their hands behind their backs and guarded by more than a dozen caravan members who were armed with sharp blades and had fierce eyes. They were gathered in the center of the hall.
At a glance, the caravan still had about twenty people. Although they were all injured, their morale was high and they were firmly in control of the situation.
However, outside the horse farm, the Northern Di army, which had rushed over upon hearing the news, had already surrounded the area.
The Crown Prince's advisor, Hadan, was outside shouting at the top of his lungs: "Listen up, you Xia people inside! You are surrounded by the warriors of the Northern Di! Quickly release the Khan and your nobles, and perhaps we may spare your lives!"
The caravan leader was a burly man with a scar on his left eyebrow. He scoffed at the words, his loud voice, filled with righteous indignation, carrying clearly throughout the hall and faintly reaching where Ah Qi and Fang Ru were hiding.
"Spare our lives? Hmph! Your Northern Di Khan, based solely on some unfounded speculation, dares to launch a military campaign to invade the territory of my Great Xia! You keep accusing my Xia women of poisoning the prince, but so much time has passed, and you haven't even caught a glimpse of the so-called murderer! Such arrogance and unreasonableness, treating my Great Xia as nothing, is truly outrageous! Today, we will risk our lives to seek justice for Great Xia and kill this muddle-headed and tyrannical Khan!"
Hadan, outside, was clearly furious, his voice trembling: "Arrogant! If you dare to lay a finger on the Great Khan, my Northern Di will mobilize the entire nation's army to raze your Great Xia lands to the ground and pay for your blood debt in blood!"
"Let it be a bloody battle!" Scarface, the leader, showed no fear. His voice boomed like a bell, carrying a resolute determination to die for his country. "The men of Great Xia are men of unyielding spirit, what fear is there of dying on the battlefield! But today, we will vent our anger and show the world that our Xia Kingdom is not a nation to be slaughtered at will!"
The two sides exchanged heated words, neither willing to back down, like two bulls butting heads, neither willing to yield an inch.
The Northern Di officers outside were restless, their swords drawn and bowstrings half-taut, yet none dared to order an attack. The Khan and many nobles hung by a thread, and no one dared to take on the responsibility.
The caravan members inside the hall, though temporarily in control, were like caged beasts, surrounded by enemies with no hope of escape.
Fangru held her breath, watching the tense scene nervously through the gap in the screen.
The caravan leader's posture of holding hostages and confronting the thousands of troops outside, his unyielding stance and willingness to fight to the death... a strong, unsettling sense of familiarity, like a cold snake, quietly coiled around her heart.
This scene...how similar it is!
Her thoughts drifted back to the time when she first met Ah Qi. He had appeared like a divine warrior, stormed into the brewery, and swiftly subdued everyone, using them as hostages to confront the guards who had rushed to the scene.
At that time, Ah Qi was in the same situation. Although he seemed to be at a disadvantage, he forced the other party not to make any rash moves by relying on the hostage in his hands and his ruthless and desperate nature. In the end, he found a way to survive and left with her.
Could it be that... these Xia people will follow Ah Qi's example and threaten the lives of the Khan and nobles to force the Northern Di army to clear the way, and then take the opportunity to break out and escape?
The thought made her heart tighten, and an indescribable doubt and chill crept up her spine.
She subconsciously and very slowly turned her head, her gaze scrutinizing and probing, landing on Ah Qi's face beside her. He remained hidden in the shadows, his profile hard and cold, his expression unreadable, only his deep eyes intently observing the situation outside.
He seemed to notice her gaze, but did not turn around. Only his hand, resting on his knee, curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly.
However, just as Fangru's doubts were growing stronger, the situation suddenly changed!
Suddenly, a noticeable commotion arose from the Northern Di army that was on high alert on the outskirts. The previously impenetrable encirclement parted from the rear to the sides as if sliced open by a sharp blade, creating a passage.
The heavy sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, accompanied by the clanging of metal armor. A more elite and austere aura, unlike that of ordinary soldiers, permeated the air.
Surrounded by dozens of elite royal guards clad in heavy armor and with sharp eyes, a woman rode slowly to the front of the formation.
She wore a black military uniform symbolizing nobility, embroidered with intricate eagle and falcon patterns in gold thread. A crown adorned with magnificent feathers further accentuated her already beautiful face, adding a touch of imposing heroism and majesty. Sunlight bathed her, making her armor gleam with a cold, sharp light.
She sat upright on her horse, her back straight, her gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the chaotic battlefield before finally settling on the ravaged entrance to the hall.
It was none other than the principal wife of the Northern Di Khan, Mudan Da'an, who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news!
The entire battlefield seemed to fall silent for a moment because of her arrival.
Immediately, the Queen's clear yet icy voice rang out, reaching everyone's ears with unwavering resolve:
"You Xia traitors inside, listen up, Your Majesty!"
Her words struck everyone's heart like icicles thrown out.
"Immediately lay down your weapons, release the Khan and all the nobles, and I, the Queen Mother, may show mercy and leave you with a complete corpse!"
She paused slightly, her gaze sharp as a knife, as if it could pierce through the tent and see the enemy inside. Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling killing intent:
"If you continue to be obstinate and resist stubbornly, our Northern Di warriors will storm in and tear you to pieces, leaving not a single one alive!"
She actually ordered a full-scale attack, disregarding the safety of the hostages!
Fangru felt a chill instantly rise from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Based on her fragmented memories from her previous life, she knew that this young queen was from the Western Rong royal family, with a strong personality and decisive actions.
But she never expected that, when faced with her husband's life or death, this queen would not choose gentle negotiation or compromise, but instead adopt a more domineering and tougher stance, attempting to crush him with absolute force! This completely exceeded her understanding of the identity of a "wife" and subverted the usual crisis management approach.
The Queen's tough stance was like pouring hot oil on a powder keg that was about to explode, instantly bringing the atmosphere in the entire hall to a tense extreme!
The caravan members were both shocked and enraged, gripping their weapons tightly and pointing them at the hostages. The Northern Khan's face also turned extremely grim, and Yan De frowned, seemingly frantically searching for a solution.
A cold glint of triumph flashed in Ah Qi's eyes.
The unexpectedly strong stance taken by the Peony Queen Mother was certainly not accidental.
Last night, at the same time as the secret report that the Great Khan of the Northern Barbarians would be arriving at the Lone Wolf Horse Ranch arrived, it was he who issued this order in a specially made coded message, instructing her to disregard the Great Khan's safety and force the caravan to take action in the most forceful manner.
At that moment, she executed his plan perfectly.
This disregard for human life gave the caravan leader a reason to take action.
Sure enough, the scarred leader burst into laughter upon hearing this: "What a ruthless queen! She doesn't even care about her own husband's life!" He suddenly drew his sword, "Since you Northern Barbarians are so heartless, don't blame us for being unjust!"
With a flash of cold light, the Northern Di nobleman standing at the front fell to the ground.
The entire hall erupted into chaos, filled with the screams of nobles, the angry shouts of caravans, and the commotion of soldiers outside. Zhou Ling, hidden in the shadows, calmly watched this drama he himself had orchestrated.
"Kill them!" The leader waved his arm, pointing to a middle-aged nobleman in a brocade robe standing on the far side, trembling like a leaf. "Let's start with this fat sheep! Let our esteemed queen hear what it's like when the neck of her loyal subject is cut off!"
"No!" The nobleman let out a shrill wail, trying to retreat, but was held down firmly by the caravan members behind him.
With a swift stroke, the knife fell!
A flash of cold light followed, accompanied by the sickening thud of a blade slicing into flesh. Blood splattered like ink onto the nearby carpet and the horrified faces of those around them. The nobleman's head drooped at an unnatural angle, his body slumped to the ground, only the slightest twitching of his nerve endings remaining.
"Ugh..." Fangru felt a violent churning in her stomach, her throat tightened, and she almost vomited.
She abruptly closed her eyes, unable to bear the bloody scene any longer, and instinctively gripped Ah Qi's arm even tighter. Unbeknownst to her, the one who orchestrated all of this was the very man beside her, seemingly protecting her.
A moment of deathly silence fell over the hall, followed by an even greater outburst of panic and suppressed sobs.
Angry roars and the sound of weapons clashing against shields came from the Northern Di army outside. The soldiers were filled with rage and could hardly contain their desire to charge.
However, the queen remained seated on her horse, her face as cold and stern as an ice sculpture.
Only her hands, tightly gripping the rope with knuckles already white, betrayed the struggle she was going through. It wasn't worry about her husband's life, but about this charade she had to play to the end.
Three years ago, on that snowy night, after Zhou Ling's secret envoy placed a cryptic letter in front of her accusing her brother, the King of Xirong, of treason, she knew she had no other choice.
Seeking refuge with the unfathomable Emperor of the Great Xia was her only way to preserve the Western Rong and ascend to the throne of the Northern Di Empress.
At this moment, she was perfectly executing Zhou Ling's plan, using the most resolute attitude to force those "Xia Kingdom caravans" to take action.
"Next!" The scarred leader's voice was like a death knell from hell, carrying a cold, ruthless satisfaction in controlling the life and death of others.
Another nobleman was dragged out. Before he could even beg for mercy, a flash of the blade, and he followed in the footsteps of the former.
Every scream, every sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh, struck Fangru's heart like a heavy hammer.
She kept her eyes tightly shut, her long eyelashes trembling violently with fear, and her face as pale as paper.
She could clearly feel the tension in Ah Qi's arm muscles and his steady, almost cold breathing. He was like a silent reef, unmoved by the raging waves outside.
Beneath the facade, Zhou Ling's heart was indeed coldly calm.
The carnage before his eyes was the climax of a drama he had meticulously planned.
The blood of the Northern Di nobles will become the nourishment for the tree of hatred between the Northern Di and the Western Rong.
He could even imagine the upheaval that would ensue when the Great Khan fell in a pool of blood and when Hadan revealed the "truth" that the Western Barbarians were in disguise.
Yan De... his gaze swept over the Xia general, who was also bound but still trying to maintain his composure, a hint of killing intent flashing across his face.
The existence of this man was always the link between Fangru and her past, and it had to be severed.
The killing continued, and nobles fell one after another.
Wailing, cursing, and weeping blended together, turning the magnificent hall into a living hell.
Fangru forced herself not to listen or think, but when a slightly hoarse but still trying-to-remain calm voice rang out, her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
"Enough! Indiscriminate killing of innocent people is not the act of a righteous man!" That was Yan De's voice!
She suddenly opened her eyes and, through the gaps in the wooden frame, saw that the scarred leader's gaze had fallen on Yan De, filled with scrutiny and undisguised malice.
"Oh, so there's a tough Xia general here?" The leader deliberately raised his voice, full of mockery. "I say, General Yan, why aren't you staying in your Xia army camp? Why are you running around this Northern Di horse farm, calling these Di people brothers? What are you up to? Could it be... that you've already secretly surrendered and become a lackey of the Northern Di?"
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Yan De's face turned ashen with rage. Even though he was bound, his spine remained ramrod straight. "I, the general, have come as an envoy on His Majesty's orders to uncover the truth and quell the war! What you have done today has truly plunged Great Xia into injustice, causing pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies!"
"Eloquent tongue!" the leader sneered, his feigned anger intensifying. "Who knows if you've conspired with the Northern Barbarians to stage this ruse! People like you, holding high positions yet lacking clear allegiance, deserve to die! Killing you will be a perfect sacrifice for our flag!"
As he spoke, he suddenly raised the still-dripping steel knife in his hand, its cold blade aimed directly at Yan De's neck in the flickering firelight!
"No!"
The string of reason in Fangru's mind snapped instantly!
All pretense, all caution, all weighing of options vanished in that moment.
What she saw was not the general of Xia Kingdom, but the benefactor who gave her status, protection and a brief period of peace in her most helpless fifth life, the one who was still speaking out for her and trying to stop the war!
As the cold blade was about to kiss Yan De's neck, Fang Ru's reason was completely consumed by fear.
She whirled around, her hands gripping Ah Qi's shirt tightly, her nails turning white from the force. Tears streamed down her upturned face, her voice broken and desperate:
"Ah Qi! Ah Qi! Please think of something! Please! Save him! Please save him!" She shook him violently, as if trying to convey her urgency to him. "He can't die! If he dies... I..." She choked up and couldn't finish her sentence. Only her tear-filled eyes were filled with complete dependence and a plea that she saw him as her only salvation.
Ah Qi's face was cold, and his heart was filled with an indescribable irritation.
Who is he? He is Zhou Ling, the Emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty! From the moment he was born, all the teachings he received and the loyalty of everyone around him had only one core principle: the body of an emperor is heavier than Mount Tai, and one should not sit on a dangerous roof. His safety is tied to the fate of the nation, and it is the first priority that all his subjects must risk their lives to protect!
Ironically, the one wielding the knife to take Yan De's life was none other than the assassin he had personally arranged.
Yan De must die, because he is Fang Ru's last resort. Only by cutting off this lifeline can she truly be left alone and stay by his side forever.
This plan had been brewing in his mind for a long time, every step meticulously calculated. But now, she was crying and begging for another man?
This sudden turn of events stirred a strange sense of unease within him. Zhou Ling, who was always meticulous in his planning, was now about to have his carefully laid trap disrupted by a woman's tears?
He looked down at the woman in his arms who was on the verge of collapse, and at the hot tears she shed for Yan De. An unnamed fire burned in his chest.
"What can I do?" His voice was as cold as ice. "Down there are bloodthirsty 'Xia people.' If I go out now, not only will I fail to save your 'benefactor,' but I will also be treated like a stable boy and hacked to death."
He deliberately emphasized the words "people of Xia" and "benefactor," his tone carrying a subtle hint of sarcasm.
This is no exaggeration.
These assassins were directly commanded by Gao Xuan and only recognized secret orders, not personal relationships.
To show himself and stop them now would be tantamount to courting death. How could Zhou Ling's life, and the fate of the Great Xia Dynasty, be risked for someone he personally ordered executed?
"You have a way! You must have a way! Right?" Fangru seemed oblivious to the deeper meaning in his words, clinging desperately to this last hope, weeping and pleading, "Please, Ah Qi..."
Ah Qi's gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on her tear-filled eyes. Reflected within them was the image of another man.
At this moment, he suddenly wondered if Yan De really died in front of him, would those beautiful eyes forever remember the despair of this moment?
The answer is yes.
He suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to lift her tear-streaked face, his voice low and dangerous: "You care about him so much that you don't even care about your own safety? Do you... like him?"
"No! No!" Fangru shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. "I don't like him! But he's been kind to me, he's someone who's truly been good to me! I can't just watch him die for me..." She realized she'd misspoke and stopped abruptly, "...I can't watch him die so innocently!" She desperately confessed, even instinctively trying to comfort him, "I...I like you! Ah Qi!"
This hasty "liking" was like adding fuel to the fire. Zhou Ling's inward sneer deepened; he could almost see through the panic behind the lie. However, looking at her like this, a strange irritation and an impulse beyond reason overwhelmed his deep-rooted imperial instincts.
Just then, the scarred leader below seemed to have lost his patience, and the knife he had raised high was about to fall!
"It's too late!" Fangru's pupils shrank, a wave of despair gripping her. She abruptly released Ah Qi's clothes, as if to rush out from their hiding place.
"I'll go save him!"
Even if it meant sacrificing herself and exposing herself, she couldn't just stand by and watch Yan De die in front of her!
Just as she was about to move, a large, iron-like hand suddenly grabbed her wrist with such force that it almost crushed her bones, forcibly pulling her back and pressing her back into the shadows!
"Are you crazy!" Ah Qi's deep voice, filled with suppressed anger and a hint of fear that even he himself didn't realize, rang in her ear. "Do you want to die with him?"
Fangru struggled, her tears flowing even more fiercely, but she couldn't break free from his grip.
Ah Qi stared intently at her, his eyes shifting with complex emotions.
The emperor's reason warned him of the folly and enormous risks of his actions, but deep within him, a strange and intense possessiveness and a reluctance to see her despair and die were raging wildly.
He remembered the sweetness of her kiss when she took the initiative to kiss him, and the tears she shed for someone else at this moment... The scales tipped in an instant.
Finally, as if he had made up his mind, his voice was cold and hard, carrying an almost resolute determination:
"Okay. I can save him."
Fangru's struggle stopped instantly, and a glimmer of hope burst forth in her tear-filled eyes.
But then Ah Qi's words came like a bucket of ice water: "However, there are conditions."
He pinched her chin, forcing her to look directly into his deep, unfathomable eyes, and said, word by word, clearly and slowly: "You, Fangru, from now on, will stay by my side, never leaving my side. Without my permission, you must never leave my sight."
He paused, a genuine, ruthless killing intent, characteristic of someone in a superior position, flashing in his eyes, and emphasized, "If one day you betray me... I will kill you with my own hands. Do you understand?"
This is a shackle, a cage, the compensation and belonging he demanded after taking risks as an emperor.
At this moment, Fangru had no time to consider the consequences of her conditions. She was willing to agree to anything to save Yan De. She nodded vigorously, eagerly promising, "I promise you! I promise! I will never leave you, I will never betray you!"
Seeing her so eagerly agree to this contract that was almost like selling herself for another man, Zhou Ling's nameless anger burned even more fiercely.
But he showed no outward sign, merely releasing her chin and coldly giving a final reminder, his voice carrying a complex meaning he himself didn't realize: "Remember your words. I'm going out now at the risk of... perhaps death. If you break your promise..."
The unfinished words turned into a nearly brutal kiss, branding her trembling lips.
This kiss, tinged with despair, was his final farewell to reason.
The next moment, he turned around resolutely and, like a ghost, stepped out of the shadows behind the wooden frame and into the hall where the firelight flickered and the murderous aura was pervasive!
His figure appeared in the hall, instantly silencing all sound.
Scarface's steel sword hovered in mid-air, and the assassins stared in astonishment at the suddenly appearing "horseman".
Zhou Ling calmly met countless gazes.
He knew that taking this step might be a final farewell. If the assassins failed to recognize his identity, if the plan were exposed at this moment, the Great Xia would lose its monarch, and the court would inevitably descend into turmoil.
But he knew even more that if he backed down now, he would live the rest of his life in her despairing gaze.
“This person,” his voice echoed clearly in the hall, “cannot be killed.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
