Leng Qingning reached out her hand and encouraged, "Xiaoyu, this way we won't be separated by the waves. Don't be afraid, jumping down gives us a glimmer of hope."
Xiao Yu decisively grabbed Leng Qingning, "Sister, I believe you."
The two leaped into the firelight and splashed into the water. A dozen seconds later, Leng Qingning surfaced, clutching the "rope" around her waist. Soon after, Xiaoyu also emerged from the sea.
"Cough cough." Xiaoyu choked on a few mouthfuls of water.
Leng Qingning dragged Xiaoyu along as they struggled to swim to the shore.
After swimming for an unknown amount of time, Leng Qingning was exhausted and still hadn't reached the shore. Could it be that she had misjudged the distance?
Looking at the nearest island, Leng Qingning gritted her teeth and held on until she finally swam to the shallow water with Xiaoyu before she was completely exhausted. Leng Qingning couldn't hold on any longer and fainted from exhaustion.
When she woke up again, she was lying on the shore, with Xiaoyu anxiously watching over her.
"Sister, you're awake? You scared me to death."
Leng Qingning sat up and looked around. It was a small, isolated island not far from the sky. The ferry explosion had made such a big commotion that soldiers would probably come to patrol soon, and then they would be rescued.
"Xiaoyu, I'm fine. My Dayue army is stationed ahead, and someone should be coming to rescue us soon."
Xiaoyu nodded and sat down next to Leng Qingning. The two sat on the shore, looking towards the sky, waiting for rescue.
The sun grew increasingly scorching, and the two waited for a long time without seeing any warships approaching. Their hearts sank lower and lower with each passing moment.
Why didn't any soldiers come out to check?
"Sister, no one is coming to save us." Xiaoyu lowered her head in despair.
Leng Qingning's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she mustered her strength and said firmly to Xiaoyu, "No, someone will definitely come to save us, Xiaoyu, we must have faith."
Xiaoyu asked in confusion, "What if there isn't one? What should we do then? Sister, I'm so scared." He was very uneasy, his whole body covered with a dense sense of panic.
Leng Qing gazed at the azure sea before him, his eyes deep and thoughtful. After a long silence, his expression turned resolute like never before.
"If no one can save me, I will have to save myself."
She gently put her arm around Xiaoyu's shoulder, her bright, lively eyes shining: "Don't be afraid, you still have me, your sister will protect you."
Leng Qingning's gaze was so intense that Xiao Yu seemed to be instantly ignited with fighting spirit, and a flame called hope ignited in his eyes.
Xiaoyu nodded heavily; those two sentences he had just heard would inspire him for the rest of his life…
The two divided the work: Xiaoyu searched for caves on the outskirts of the island to shelter from the wind and rain, while Leng Qingning went into the woods to find edible fruits and fresh water.
As darkness fell, the two finally found wild fruits and water after their tireless efforts. Xiaoyu led Leng Qingning to the other side of the island, where there was a narrow cave.
That night, the two, one big and one small, huddled together in a small cave, spending a cold and desolate night.
The next day, they returned to the island to await rescue. Before leaving, Leng Qingning left several large lines of text on the beach.
On the fourth day, the two finally waited for the warship to arrive.
The Jin soldiers received the rescue order, searched several nearby islands, and found the writings written by Leng Qingning. The two followed the soldiers back to the army's camp outside Cangqiong City.
Leng Qingning went straight to the Dayue military tent. Using the Azure Phoenix Divine Jade as her token, the Dayue soldiers respectfully led her to General Xie's tent.
Inside the tent, General Xie was discussing strategy with a group of people when Leng Qingning pulled Sang Yu along as they walked in.
"General Xie." This greeting carried a touch of long-lost warmth.
Everyone turned to look at the sound, and Jin Yan, who was sitting on the inside, followed everyone's gaze to Leng Qingning and the other person.
"Who are you?" the official standing on the outside asked.
General Xie felt that the voice sounded somewhat familiar, and when he looked up, he was met with Leng Qingning's warm and smiling face.
"Your Highness?" General Xie dropped the defense map in his hand, his face showing a mixture of surprise and delight.
General Meng was also taken aback. He rubbed his eyes and asked, "How could Your Highness be here?"
"Your Highness?" Several Jin generals looked puzzled.
General Xie rushed to Leng Qingning, looking at her incredulously: "Your Highness? What brings you here?"
Leng Qingning glanced at everyone and playfully replied, "We were kidnapped." She paused, then continued, "General Xie, it's so good to see you."
"What! Who dares?" General Xie's eyes widened.
"Kidnapping? Outrageous! Who dares to kidnap our young king of Dayue?" General Meng exclaimed urgently.
Leng Qingning smiled with relief: "It's alright, I'm perfectly fine, General Meng and General Xie, there's no need to worry."
"How can that be? What exactly happened? Tell this old minister quickly!" General Xie said anxiously.
"General Xie, let me and my brother have a drink of water first," Leng Qingning said, pointing to Xiao Yu beside her.
Following the direction of the finger, General Xie noticed that there was another person standing next to him. The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of captivating heterochromatic eyes.
General Xie was deeply shocked and suddenly stammered, "Him?...He...who is he?"
Everyone looked at Xiaoyu and examined him closely. He was indeed an exceptionally handsome little boy; there were probably few women who could be so delicate and charming.
Feeling shy under the gaze of so many people, Xiaoyu approached Leng Qingning and timidly leaned against her for a sense of security.
Leng Qingning gently patted Xiaoyu's hair to comfort him, then turned to everyone and said, "His name is Sangyu, and he is one of my people. Please don't frighten him."
Everyone immediately looked away.
General Xie and General Meng exchanged a glance, both revealing a knowing look.
Oh, your people, I understand!
She's definitely good-looking, but she looks a bit young...
General Xie and General Meng immediately put on smiles and bowed to Xiaoyu, saying, "Your subject greets Young Master Sang."
"No need, you're welcome," Xiaoyu replied obediently.
Leng Qingning, with Xiaoyu in her arms, walked through the crowd and sat down in the commander's seat under everyone's gaze. She poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xiaoyu.
"Is this His Highness the Young King of Dayue?" a minister from the Jin Kingdom asked, looking at Xie and Meng.
Xie and Meng stepped forward, saying, "That's right."
Upon receiving an affirmative reply, all the generals inside the room rose and bowed to Leng Qingning.
"Your subject greets His Highness the Young King and Young Master Sang."
Leng Qingning raised her hand and said in a gentle tone, "Generals, please rise and be seated."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The dozen or so generals who were standing returned to their seats and looked up. The generals of Yue Kingdom had sincere eyes and always held Leng Qingning in high esteem; the generals of Jin Kingdom had respectful expressions, while inwardly marveling at how the young ruler of Yue Kingdom was truly a dragon among men.
Jin Yan stared intently at the young king of Dayue.
Leng Qingning clearly noticed him when she came in.
The dashing young general stood out among the group of female generals, making him impossible to ignore!
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