After a long day of running around, the three of them were exhausted. The next day, Nan got up and didn't see Thirteen on the table. He casually asked, "Where's Thirteen? Still not up?"
Yinzhen sat down beside her. "The matter of Shihezi Mountain is of great importance. He has gone to transfer people." He took a sip of porridge, thought for a moment, and looked up at the woman beside him. "Be more vigilant these next two days. I'm afraid you'll have to work hard."
"Huh? What do you mean by that? What happened?" Nan Yi frowned, sensing that something was about to happen.
"There's something fishy going on at Shihezi Mountain. We don't know if the local government is involved. We brought too few people with us. We'll go to the neighboring prefecture early this morning to get more people."
"It's near the prefectural capital, is it possible to make it in time?"
"A day is enough time to turn back."
That's good. Nan Yi had previously thought that if the two brothers discovered something was wrong with Shihezi Mountain, they would definitely seek help from the local authorities and directly destroy Shihezi Mountain.
In this way, the results may not be significant. You should know that there are more than a dozen skilled fighters hiding in those mountains, and who knows how many more are inside.
As ordinary government clerks, they were just there to deliver their heads.
After breakfast, she stood at the entrance for a while and immediately noticed the difference in the courtyard. Upon entering the small courtyard, the guards were on high alert, and hidden sentries were concealed on the gate, walls, and roof.
It seems like a storm is brewing.
Yinzhen took the two cloaks and carried her from the main room to the westernmost side room of the courtyard. The small room had been cleaned and tidied up.
"We'll stay here for the next couple of days."
Nan raised an eyebrow. She didn't care where she stayed, as long as she had a bed and snacks, even a shack would do. She kicked off her shoes, climbed into bed, and snuggled under the covers.
Yinzhen sighed inwardly. She had no posture, no manners, and her manners were a complete mess. But he didn't scold her.
He took the book, sat down at the table to read, and flipped through a few pages. Nan Yi leaned against the bedpost, nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice.
Yinzhen got up, walked to the bedside, leaned against the bedpost, put his arm around her shoulder, and returned his gaze to the book.
There was nothing much to do during the day, so they couldn't go out. The two of them stayed in the side room, eating and sleeping, and the day passed by in a blur.
In another part of Shicheng, in the mountains of Shihezi, a group of men in black waited quietly in a hollowed-out mountain chamber. The leader, a masked man who appeared to be a leader, sat on top, his hand supporting his forehead.
The scouts reported last night that the fish had taken the bait. How foolish! They sent two princes to investigate over a mere rumor.
Perfect, it saves him a lot of effort. Even if he can't kill his enemy tonight, killing a few of his sons is worthwhile. There's an old saying that goes, "The sins of the father are paid by the sons."
I heard that the two princes who came were the emperor's two most valued sons. Ten years have passed, and their blood will be used to appease the spirits of our ancestors.
Inside the stone chamber, torches on the walls illuminated the interior. The masked man at the head of the table glanced at the hourglass and asked, "Has Beard returned yet?"
A man in black stepped forward and said, "Young master, Hu Zi has not returned."
The masked man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Wait another quarter of an hour. If they haven't returned, act immediately."
"Yes, young master."
In a small courtyard in Shicheng, as dusk fell, Yinzhen dragged Nan Yi out of bed and solemnly ordered her to sit properly, placing a three-foot-long sword within easy reach of her.
He put down the book in his hand, sat close to Nan Yi, and rubbed the back of Nan Yi's hand with his thumb intermittently.
The room was dark, and the two men were breathing shallowly. No matter how calm he appeared, Nan Yi could sense the unease in the Fourth Master's heart.
She didn't offer any words of comfort. Although the two of them had been getting along peacefully for the past two days, their relationship was a perfect description of being in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.
Before, when they were together, she would act cute and try to please him. Now, she's too lazy to say a word, she saves money wherever she can, she eats when she's offered food, and sleeps soundly by herself when she's allowed to sleep.
He pretended to be gentle and affectionate, considerate and caring, and she accepted it all. Having a prince constantly around her, showing concern and warmth, she was not only touched, but also incredibly pleased.
The day would be even more beautiful if I didn't wake up in his arms every morning.
Around 10 a.m., Nan Yi, who was leaning against Yinzhen and fast asleep, suddenly felt a jolt. Dozens of auras approached the courtyard. Judging from the footsteps, there were quite a few people. They really had come. It seemed that a fierce battle was going to happen tonight.
"Yi'er?" Yinzhen was not oblivious; he tightened his grip on her hand.
Nan stood up, drew his sword, and asked the person beside him in a deep voice, "You'd better take a weapon to protect yourself."
"A lot of people?" Yinzhen pulled a short blade from his sleeve. "My riding and archery skills are average. Yi'er, if we can't hold them off, we'll leave here first. Thirteen's reinforcements will arrive by dawn."
"It's too late." Nan Yi rushed to the door. The guards outside the courtyard were already fighting with the people outside. "Don't come out yet, I'll go out and take a look."
Yinzhen nodded in the darkness. Although Nan Yi couldn't see him and the situation was unclear, he didn't want to go out and cause her trouble.
"Be extremely careful," he whispered a warning.
"Um."
Nan Yi flashed to the outside of the courtyard. Fighting sounds came from all directions. On the outer walls, rooftops, and inside the courtyard, the enemy and his side were locked in fierce combat.
Oh no, they're surrounded.
Nan Yi glanced at the situation in the courtyard and her mind raced. She turned to go inside to warn them, but two men in black suddenly leaped down from the roof. Nan Yi was about to draw her sword when one of them quickly said, "Master, they're our own people."
"Yes, remind the guards not to linger with them. Get out of here quickly. There are too many of them; there's no need for unnecessary sacrifices."
"This..." The two guards hesitated; without their master's permission, they dared not act.
"I'll listen to you, Master Tong." Yinzhen was already by the door. He came out and stood side by side with Nan Yi.
"Yes, sir."
Nan Yi pulled Yinzhen quickly toward the west corner wall and said urgently, "Stay close to me and don't get separated."
Yinzhen remained silent, gripping her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.
Nan glanced to the other side and saw more than a dozen men in black with flaming bows and arrows ready to fire. She gasped and quickly reached out to grab the strong waist of the Fourth Uncle, pulling him up to leap onto the wall. In the instant they passed each other, more than a dozen rockets shot into the doors and windows of the houses in the courtyard.
As the firelight blazed, the figure of Yinzhen Nanyi, standing atop the wall, came into view. Someone shouted, "The dog prince is there! Kill him!"
Nan Yi stumbled because of his address and almost fell off the wall, but Yinzhen pulled her up.
"Hurry up."
Nan Yi leaped over the wall with him, but after only a few steps, the men in black behind them arrived in an instant. With a whoosh of wind, Nan Yi pushed Yinzhen aside and turned to face the attack.
The men in black were all quite skilled, similar to those who came to spy that night. They could handle two or three, but with more than one, Nan Yi alone couldn't hold them off.
Fortunately, there were guards protecting Yinzhen behind her, so she didn't have to worry about anything.
Holding the short blade, Yinzhen stared intently at Nan Yi's figure, the glint of swords flashing around her filling him with dread.
"Yi'er, come back."
Nan Yi didn't want to get entangled with them. Knowing she couldn't win, she wasn't stupid to fight them head-on. She used a feint, quickly walked up to Yinzhen, grabbed him, and ran away.
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