"Zhang Yi!" Chu Tianyou suddenly shouted angrily.
Zhan Chi paused, turned around, and saw his so-called confidant smiling as he placed a sword against Chu Tianyou's neck.
Chu Tianyou gritted his teeth, "Zhang Yi, I have treated you well, yet you betrayed me!"
Zhang Yi remained unfazed, saying, "I too choose the best tree to perch on."
Zhan Chi shifted his feet slightly; he hadn't expected things to go wrong with the Crown Prince's confidant.
Zhang Yi laughed again, "Guard Zhan, if you take another step forward, His Highness the Crown Prince will be dead."
Zhan Chi has been staying by the Crown Prince's side every step of the way these past few days, making it difficult for him to make a move. Based on the strength Zhan Chi just displayed, he definitely couldn't defeat him.
Chu Wenzheng laughed a few times, "My good nephew, you'd better obediently follow your royal uncle."
Chu Tianyou's face turned ashen, "Zhan Chi..."
The moment he spoke, the cold sword at his neck drew even closer, forcing him to shut his mouth again.
Zhan Chi frowned slightly, but still decided to capture Chu Wenzheng.
Chu Wenzheng said with a half-smile, "It's quite surprising that Princess Changning would keep such a skilled fighter like you by the Crown Prince's side. But aren't you worried about your princess's life?"
Zhan Chi remained unfazed. The princess's martial arts skills were no weaker than his, and the people they brought were all elites trained by the princess. Most of them were guarding the princess's side, and with Wei Changkong and his Yunzhou guards also by their side, they were certainly capable of protecting themselves.
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Chu Wenzheng threw his head back and laughed loudly, "Your princess led people to Huaxian to ambush Sun Xiang and his group. Do you think I don't know? Why don't you guess what I arranged there?"
Zhan Chi's face was grim. Without further hesitation, he said in a deep voice, "Let's go." The Crown Prince, after all, had nothing to do with them; naturally, their own Princess Consort was more important.
Chu Wenzheng's target was the Crown Prince, and he didn't have time to get entangled with a master like Zhan Chi. Zhan Chi quickly led his men to break through the encirclement.
In the dead of night in Huaxian County, Xia Fan, carrying Sun Xiang's severed head, looked at the raging flames outside and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, it's the troops from Yingzhou."
Hua County is located bordering Yingzhou. Yingzhou had previously only secretly blocked the roads, but now they have openly entered Yunzhou's territory.
Wei Changkong gathered the former Yunzhou Guard troops who were willing to submit and rushed over, "Your Highness..."
Bai Chuxiao asked calmly, "How many troops?"
Wei Changkong said in a deep voice, "Seventy thousand."
The Yunzhou Guard originally numbered at least 100,000, but after this ordeal, casualties were inevitable, and their combat strength was greatly reduced.
As the Yingzhou troops drew closer, Wei Changkong's face turned ashen as he looked at the familiar faces in the firelight.
Bai Chuxiao slowly asked, "You know each other?"
Wei Changkong said in a deep voice, "Yang Chang, Commander of Yingzhou Guard."
As the troops poured in, the county town suddenly became crowded.
Wei Changkong said sternly, "Yang Chang, leading troops into Yunzhou territory without authorization is a serious crime."
Commander Yang Chang of Yingzhou Garrison laughed loudly, "Wei Changkong, it's strange that someone with your reckless nature has survived until now."
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "What is the Commander trying to do? Rebellion?"
Yang Chang smiled nonchalantly, "Princess Consort Yan is too kind. I merely noticed some unusual activity in Yunzhou and came to provide assistance."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you saw that there's nothing unusual in Yunzhou. Commander, you can leave now."
Yang Chang laughed again, "Princess Consort of Yan, you and I both know the truth, why bother to spell it out?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "So, Commander, do you intend to kill me?"
Xia Fan and the others immediately surrounded Bai Chuxiao, warily watching the people opposite them. Tonight was going to be a real fight.
Yang Chang smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. The Prince of Yan still has hundreds of thousands of troops. Who would dare to harm Your Highness in the slightest? I merely wish to invite Your Highness to come."
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Commander, but I don't really want to be a guest. Your blatant behavior suggests that Chu Wenzheng and your master have already taken control of the capital?"
Lin Huai's letter probably never even reached Emperor Wenxuan's desk. However, Cheng Song shouldn't betray Emperor Wenxuan; with him in charge of the Imperial Guards, she felt there shouldn't be any problems in the palace. Now it seems that something went wrong somewhere.
Yang Chang waved his hand dismissively and said in a deep voice, "That's not up to the Princess Consort."
Wei Changkong said sternly, "The Princess Consort will go first."
Yang Chang couldn't possibly bring all the troops from Yingzhou in such a short time. Although their fighting strength was depleted from repeated battles, they still outnumbered the Yingzhou troops and could still put up a fight.
Bai Chuxiao nodded and said in a deep voice, "Commander Wei, thank you for your trouble."
Now is not the time for sentimentality. She doesn't know what's happening in the capital. If nothing's wrong at the palace, all will be well; everything will resolve itself once she sees Emperor Wenxuan. But if something is wrong, she'll need to return to the capital even more, since her mother is still in the palace.
The Yunzhou Guard and Yingzhou Guard clashed. Bai Chuxiao led Xia Fan and the others quickly out of the battlefield, heading towards the hidden path of Mingyue Mountain. Yang Chang glanced indifferently in the direction they left, showing no concern.
At the foot of Mingyue Mountain, a man shrouded in black robes led a group of people, blocking Bai Chuxiao and her companions' path.
Bai Chuxiao looked at the black-robed man at the head of the group and felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. "Sir, isn't it a bit much to be so heavily disguised at night?"
The man in black robes asked loudly, "Where does the princess intend to go?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "If I told you, would you let this princess go?"
The man in black robes laughed loudly, "Do you think the princess can escape with so few people?"
Bai Chuxiao's eyes turned slightly cold; it would be difficult to leave without bloodshed tonight.
Without further ado, he brandished the Shadow Mirror and charged towards the man in black robes. The two quickly engaged in combat, and Xia Fan and the others also swiftly joined the fray.
The black-robed man's moves seemed familiar. Bai Chuxiao thought for a moment, then said coldly, "Chu Tianling's men."
The man in black robes chuckled, "Your Highness has excellent judgment."
When he killed Bai Chuxiao on the outskirts of the capital, he didn't actually fight her, but she still recognized him.
Bai Chuxiao sneered, "We're all old acquaintances, why bother with masks? Are Chu Tianling's lackeys so shameful that they can't be seen in the light of day?"
Anger flashed across the black-robed man's face. "I hope you'll remain just as calm once the princess is in my hands."
He then abandoned any talk of a fair one-on-one duel with her, and with a wave of his hand, several men in black immediately surrounded her.
Bai Chuxiao remained unfazed, her attacks becoming increasingly ruthless. However, the black-robed man was already very strong, and with so many people attacking her, she found herself struggling more and more, gradually sustaining several wounds on her body.
The man in black robes laughed loudly, "Princess, why bother with this futile struggle?"
Bai Chuxiao's eyes turned cold. Without a word, she kicked the two men to the ground and then slit their throats. She absolutely could not fall into Chu Tianling's hands.
The man in black robes looked grim. He'd actually managed to kill someone right under her nose! He immediately became serious; if he let her escape this good opportunity tonight, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.
After taking two blows, blood trickled from the corner of Bai Chuxiao's mouth. The man in black sneered, his attacks becoming even more ferocious. He wanted to see how long she could hold out...
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