Chapter 16: King of Linhuai
"Let me go...you...hold on...wait...Prince Linhuai..."
Qian Deng didn't answer. Perhaps she was exhausted, or perhaps she was too distracted to hear. She simply held onto his sinking body, stubbornly refusing to give up, even if his weight might drag her into the icy abyss.
They drifted into the pond, and the spears could not penetrate that far, but their companions were killed and they were injured in the chaos at the pond, so they were not willing to leave.
With a "bang", someone picked up a stone and threw it at them. Fortunately, the stone was not accurate in the dark and only hit them, splashing a wave.
The rebels followed suit, picking up stones and throwing them at them.
Qiandeng pushed Cui Fufeng and swam forward desperately, trying to escape from the attack range.
But in the chaos, Cui Fufeng's body tilted, and he suddenly slipped out of her arms and sank down.
Qian Deng was stunned and horrified, and immediately raised his hands to hug Cui Fufeng's shoulders underwater.
A sharp pain shot through her back, a rock hitting her shoulder blade. She shuddered, her entire body weakened, and she dove into the water, taking a large gulp of water as she gasped.
She coughed and choked desperately, her breathing becoming hoarse, but she held Cui Fufeng's hand tightly and never let go, just dragging him forward to swim.
"This little girl is so stubborn!" The leader on the shore picked up a fist-sized stone and said, "Pah!" "I'm going to throw this one out there and see how she escapes!"
After saying that, he raised his right arm high and was about to throw the stone out.
At that moment, the wind in the forest roared, the sharp sound of bowstrings rang out, and countless arrows were fired at once. A stray arrow pierced his shoulder, causing the stone in his hand to fall to the ground.
Immediately, the soldiers and bandits by the pond were shot by arrows one after another, screaming in agony, their bodies twitching as they fell forward and fell into the turbulent pond.
Qiandeng opened his eyes wide in the water, saw soldiers and horses rushing out of the dark forest, and heard the sound of sharp bows and arrows breaking through the air.
The horses galloped so fast that in a flash the man in the lead reached the edge of the pond.
In the dark night, she was struggling in the water and couldn't see the other person's face clearly, but the cold and sharp eyes as sharp as a knife and scorching as fire in the backlight made her feel as if she was back to the moment of the palace coup three years ago.
Prince Linhuai, he is here.
Three years ago, the young Prince Linhuai was already arrogant. Now he was even taller and more upright than before. He glanced at her struggling in the water, jumped off his horse and strode towards the pool.
Several soldiers behind them who were good at swimming immediately jumped into the pool and swam them back to the shore.
Qiandeng was weak and exhausted, and was about to reach the shore in a daze when a hand grabbed her shoulder.
She felt as if she was flying up, and then was lifted out of the water by King Linhuai and thrown wetly onto the shore.
The water was icy cold, and her soaked body shivered uncontrollably.
One of her shoes was missing, her hair was wet and tangled on her face, and the shirt wrapped tightly around her body outlined her curves, making her look even more hazy and graceful under the dim moonlight.
Although the Shuofang Army had strict military discipline, the soldiers nearby couldn't help but glance at her. Prince Linhuai frowned, took off his cloak and threw it on her.
Qiandeng trembled and silently wrapped his cloak tightly to cover his body.
The clothes with his body temperature blocked the night wind, dispelled the coldness from her body, and stopped her shivering.
The people behind him stepped forward. Qian Deng turned around to look at Cui Fufeng and asked in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Cui...are you okay?"
"He's lucky enough to survive," the King of Linhuai said coldly. He walked up to Cui Fufeng and saw that his wound had been bandaged and he was gradually regaining consciousness. He then asked mercilessly, "When the scout handed over the signal arrow, he said it could be used to send messages in an emergency. Now that the Shuofang army has come to rescue us in the middle of the night, who is more important, you or her?"
This cold question made Qiandeng feel cold all over, as if he was still sinking in a cold pond.
Cui Fufeng had entrusted the communication order between the Shuofang Army and the Crown Prince to an insignificant woman. He would certainly be punished by military and legal laws, and his official career might even be completely ruined.
She turned her head and saw Cui Fufeng, who was being carried onto the sedan chair, struggling to hold himself up. He said softly, "I overstepped my bounds and I am willing to accept the punishment."
Prince Linhuai ignored him and only signaled his soldiers to immediately tidy up and prepare to return to the camp.
Seeing that he was about to mount his horse and leave, Qian Deng didn't care about anything else and rushed over to stop his horse.
The Shuofang army immediately stopped her and prevented her from approaching.
Qian Deng rushed towards his back and said anxiously, "Your Highness, there are two East Palace guards and one of my servants who have just been killed and injured by the rebel army. Please lend a hand and send someone to rescue them!"
The dense forest was dark. He reined in his horse and turned back, looking down at her from above. The faint sunlight shone through his shoulders, only outlining his hard outline, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Who are you? Why are the East Palace guards with you? Where is the Crown Prince?"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is safe and sound at my family's farm." Qian Deng said, hesitating for a moment before replying, "I am... the Princess of Lingling County, Bai Qian Deng."
Bai Qiandeng.
When this name came to mind, the girl who had cowered in his arms like a young animal during the palace coup that day seemed to appear before King Linhuai's eyes again.
The hundreds of thousands of lights that illuminated the palace that day had never completely faded from his memory.
That tiny figure then had now grown into the shape of a young girl. She wrapped herself tightly in his cloak, barely visible in the darkness, like a blossoming tree in the shade, its color indistinguishable but its pure beauty.
Qian Deng saw him sizing him up and down, pondering for a moment. He knew he must still remember what happened three years ago, so he immediately added, "Lord Cui was ordered by the Crown Prince to escort me here to seek medical treatment. Now that the Prince has rescued me, I will immediately take the Prince back to the farm to reunite with the Crown Prince. Because of the urgency of the situation, Lord Cui was unable to attend to anything else. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
Prince Linhuai finally relaxed his tone and asked, "So, where is your farm?"
"It's not far. The prince is doing well. Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I will take you there as soon as I find Doctor Liao."
In the darkness, Prince Linhuai did not speak, but he was too tall, and the way he looked down at her made her feel endless pressure.
She was a little afraid, but still explained: "My mother is seriously injured and urgently needs medical treatment, and the female doctor who treated my mother is living in seclusion here..."
"Is the person you are talking about far away from here?"
Unexpectedly, he did not blame me, but his voice became quieter.
Qian Deng raised his hand and pointed upwards: "It's just over the mountain path, not far away."
He pointed at a few guards and said, "Accompany Lingling County Princess as soon as possible."
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