The people of Nanyi Kingdom had also been uneasy lately.
"Do you know what happened in the palace? Why are the soldiers searching everywhere day and night?"
Some citizens looked at the wanted posters, their hearts filled with confusion.
"Huh, isn't this Gu Qianying?"
A woman approached the wanted portrait, her expression somewhat solemn.
"What, how could it be her? Did something go wrong with the palace competition?"
The speaker was Wu Bingbing and her attendant.
The city had indeed been in turmoil recently, but she had only heard that the Empress was looking for someone, never imagining it would be Gu Qianying.
She carefully examined the contents, which stated that she had privately released a prisoner and murdered the eldest daughter of the Su family.
Upon reading this, Wu Bingbing was astonished.
Although the two had always been rivals, given Gu Qianying's personality, if she had harbored such intentions, she would have acted long ago. It was unlikely she would commit murder after so long.
However, considering there had been no news of the three Su sisters returning, she also felt some doubt.
"Miss, we'd better not get involved. That woman was acting strangely when we were in the palace. Perhaps she was confused and really did something wrong."
The maidservant pulled at her, not wanting her young lady to meddle in this affair.
Wu Bingbing frowned. She had her suspicions about Gu Qianying, but she felt that something was amiss with the Empress herself, not Gu Qianying.
With this thought, she remained silent, but instead, she tore down the wanted poster in front of her and left the crowd.
As night fell, sounds were heard from Gu Qianying's inn.
Believing her injuries to be quite serious, Ouyang Qinglin had been guarding the door.
When he sensed something was wrong, a group of men in black had already landed on the roof.
"Not good." His heart sank as he immediately rushed into the room.
"Are they the Empress's people?"
Although Gu Qianying could not fight, her intuition was still sharp.
Ouyang Qinglin nodded.
"We must leave now. Can your body still move?"
He was still worried about Gu Qianying's condition.
"I'm fine. The important thing now is to leave as soon as possible."
She naturally knew who the people outside were. Looking at Su Cheng beside her, Gu Qianying pushed him towards Ouyang Qinglin.
"You take him and leave first, head out of the city. I can hide my tracks. Mark the way, and then you can come back for me."
Seeing that even at this moment, she was still thinking of this man, Ouyang Qinglin flicked his hand.
"How can you, in your condition, still be thinking of this man? You're risking your life."
Knowing he was angry, Gu Qianying was still worried.
"Miss Gu, as a man, how can I let a wounded young lady protect me like this? Don't worry, I know some martial arts and can protect myself."
Seeing that he was being sensible, Ouyang Qinglin glanced at him, then rushed out with Gu Qianying.
"They're here, as expected. Go up, everyone. Grand Tutor said, bring them back alive or dead. If you don't capture them today, you won't return alive either."
Upon seeing Gu Qianying, the guards attacked with all their might.
"Yes."
The subordinates heard this, raised their long swords, and charged forward.
"Those who court death."
Ouyang Qinglin, clad in a long robe, stood in front of Gu Qianying, while Su Cheng dealt with those attacking from the side.
At this moment, the inn was filled with the sound of clashing swords.
As the place was secluded, apart from the innkeeper, no one else appeared.
He hid in a corner, constantly clasping his hands together, praying to heaven not to let him lose his life.
This time, Grand Tutor Su had dispatched a large number of men. Although Ouyang Qinglin was in front, Gu Qianying's presence still caused him to be distracted.
Seeing an assassin sneak attack, Su Cheng quickly used his body to block the attack.
"Ugh."
With a muffled groan, Su Cheng fell, and Ouyang Qinglin took the opportunity to kick the assassin downstairs.
"Are you alright?" Gu Qianying quickly stepped forward to help Su Cheng up. It was then that she noticed that Su Cheng had several wounds on his body.
"You're still holding on like this."
But as the words left her mouth, the assassin's sword once again stabbed towards her.
Seeing the sword getting closer and closer, as Gu Qianying prepared to draw her soft sword to counterattack, Ouyang Qinglin suddenly threw her over his shoulder, and the assassin was also knocked to the ground by his blow.
Looking at the severely wounded Su Cheng on the ground, he glanced at the people still swarming forward, hardened his heart, and turned to leap out the window.
Seeing that Gu Qianying had escaped danger, Su Cheng felt somewhat at ease.
He was not angry that Ouyang Qinglin had left him behind.
After all, if it weren't for saving him, Gu Qianying wouldn't have been so seriously injured.
The assassins chased after them one by one, but one still approached Su Cheng.
"I thought she would definitely take you with her, but I didn't expect that in the face of life and death, she still found you a burden."
The speaker was the personal guard of Grand Tutor Su, and his sword was pointed at Su Cheng's heart.
"Whether she saves me or not has never been that important. As long as she is safe, that's enough."
Su Cheng smiled after speaking. Being able to hold off one more person now was still of some use.
The dark guard smiled with him and raised his sword to strike.
"How truly foolish."
The sword did not fall. Instead, a voice reached his ears, followed by a flash of sword light.
Su Cheng opened his eyes. It turned out to be Ouyang Qinglin.
"You came to save me?"
He asked in disbelief, but received only a glare from Ouyang Qinglin.
After knocking the dark guard to the ground, he exerted force with his hand, dragged the person out, and then threw a smoke bomb.
With the cover of thick smoke, Ouyang Qinglin led Gu Qianying and Su Cheng to escape the city.
However, with two injured people beside him, he naturally could not escape too far and hid in a temple outside the city.
"Amitabha."
Seeing the three covered in blood, the abbot of the temple quickly led them to the backyard.
Ouyang Qinglin wanted to explain, but the abbot shook his head.
"Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Even if you are bad people, there will be karma. Benefactors, please heal your injuries here."
Ouyang Qinglin bowed.
He thought that this monk's brain must have been addled by chanting scriptures. If they were truly bad people, wouldn't they slaughter this temple once their injuries healed?
Grand Tutor's men did not pursue them. They were safe for the time being.
With a place to stay, Ouyang Qinglin quickly began to treat their injuries.
Gu Qianying was actually alright. After all, she was a physician herself. Once her body recovered its strength, she could use acupuncture to treat herself.
However, Su Cheng's condition was not optimistic.
Although the most serious injury on him seemed to be the sword stab, because the sword's force was insufficient, it only penetrated his shoulder by an inch, so it shouldn't be a major injury.
But after Ouyang Qinglin stopped his bleeding, the man still looked very weak.
"Let me take a look."
Gu Qianying sat beside Su Cheng. Whether it was concern or something else, seeing Su Cheng in this state, she felt a pang of heartache.