"Be careful." Xue Song kicked away someone who stepped towards Xue Yan.
Xue Yan smiled, her face pale and devoid of color, "Xue Song, meeting you has been the greatest joy I've ever known."
Xue Song started, looking at the girl before him, exhausted yet still smiling. He stepped forward, embraced her, and kissed her.
He knew that if he didn't act now, there might never be another chance.
The two kissed, lost in the moment.
Meanwhile, the others were quite busy.
Feng Wu plunged his sword into an opponent's heart, then withdrew it, saying with a hint of sourness, "Wasn't my kiss enough? Are you moving on now?"
Finally, the reluctant pair finished their kiss, breathing heavily. Xue Song said cheekily, "You're just envious and jealous."
Feng Wu twitched his lips, "In this situation, I'm not envious. I only hate that I have to bless you with a long and happy life together."
Xue Song's gaze paused, and he smiled, "Thank you."
Feng Wu chuckled, "Thank you for what? If there's a chance, I'll just marry your daughter, won't I?"
"Feng Wu, you're shameless! You're reserving her before she's even born," Xue Feng couldn't help but quip.
Feng Wu looked ahead at the relentless attackers, "Let's just focus on getting out of here first!"
The four stood back-to-back, forming a circle, facing the growing crowd and laughing, "Come on!"
"Feng Wu, you're called Feng Yin, and you're still not enough..." Xue Song said teasingly.
Feng Wu retorted without hesitation, "I've heard that the Snow Guards accompanying the Crown Prince are exceptionally skilled. Is this really their caliber?"
The four exchanged glances, knowing that perhaps this time, fate's cruel hand was unavoidable, but the Empress would definitely get out.
The Empress was their hope.
Xue Yan smiled in the distance. She could go down and proudly tell the Hidden Head, who treated her like a daughter, that she had not disgraced herself; she had protected the Empress.
Xue Song and Xue Feng knew that as long as the Empress was safe, the Crown Prince would have hope.
Feng Wu had dealt with his attackers. As Feng Yin, loyalty was his sole tenet.
However, the girl in his heart was someone he dared not think too much about.
As long as she was safe, it was worth it.
The crowd gradually surrounded the four, and archers on the battlement prepared their arrows.
They were waiting for the young man in front to give the order.
The young man hesitated to give the order.
"Stop everyone," a clear voice called out from a distance.
The young man looked up and saw a girl holding a woman hostage. This woman was none other than the Empress.
"Xue Jingyuan, the Empress is in my hands. You will order these people to retreat immediately, or else..."
The dagger in the girl's hand moved closer to the Empress's neck, its sharp edge drawing blood.
The Empress's face darkened with anger, "Jingyuan, don't listen to her. My life is insignificant. Don't let her go."
Xue Jingyuan frowned, looking at the girl, and said coldly, "Xue Zining, you are holding an unarmed person hostage. Do you feel no shame?"
Xue Zining sneered, looking at the young man on the battlement, and taunted, "Why should I feel ashamed? And you, Xue Jingyuan, do you feel you've been true to the trust I once placed in you?"
The young man's gaze flickered, and he said coldly, "Dwelling on the past is useless."
"Since it's useless, what will you do now? Will you let us go? Or will the Empress die with us?" Xue Zining asked coldly.
"Xue Jingyuan, Xue Zining cannot be allowed to leave," Xue Yunlan appeared from behind, coming to Xue Jingyuan's side.
"Otherwise? You want me to let Xue Zining kill the Empress in full view of everyone?" the young man asked Xue Yunlan coldly.
Xue Yunlan started, gritting her teeth, "Then Xue Zining certainly cannot be allowed to leave."
"She won't escape, but the Empress must live," Xue Jingyuan said. For him to legitimately become the Emperor of Xue, he needed the Empress's consent.
"You have an ambush?" Xue Yunlan inferred from Xue Jingyuan's words.
"My affairs do not require your interference. Just do your own job."
With that, Xue Jingyuan dismissed the archers behind him and said coldly to the girl below, "Fine, I promise you, as long as you ensure the Empress is unharmed."
"I want a carriage. I will release the Empress once we are in a safe place."
Xue Jingyuan frowned, "How do you guarantee the Empress's safety?"
"I will take the Empress's personal maid with me," Xue Zining said coldly.
Xue Jingyuan looked at the girl and shouted at his men, "Someone, prepare a carriage."
The carriage was quickly brought. Xue Zining said to Xue Yan and the others, "Get in the carriage."
Xue Yan and the others retrieved their weapons. Xue Feng and Feng Wu stood on either side of the carriage to prevent any opportunistic attacks. Xue Yan and Xue Song approached Xue Zining, protecting her until she and the Empress boarded the carriage, then they also boarded.
Xue Feng and Feng Wu exchanged a glance. Xue Feng drove the carriage, while Feng Wu surveyed the surroundings, guarding against any surprise attacks.
The carriage soon disappeared. Xue Yunlan said angrily, "Xue Jingyuan, by doing this, aren't you letting a tiger return to the mountains?"
Xue Jingyuan heard this and turned to look at Xue Yunlan coldly, "They may escape from me, but they cannot escape the pursuit of Qianjin Tower."
Xue Yunlan started, taking a step back, "You..."
A flicker of coldness crossed Xue Jingyuan's eyes, "My mother was killed by the fake Empress of Huangze and Qianjin Tower. It has nothing to do with me."
Xue Yunlan's heart trembled as she looked at Xue Jingyuan. At that moment, the young man before her seemed so strange, so utterly unfamiliar.
"You... you planned this from the beginning, letting Qianjin Tower do this for you?"
Xue Jingyuan looked at her, his gaze colder than ever, "The Empress was not within my plans."
"Xue Jingyuan, I only now realize that you are the most terrifying one."
Xue Jingyuan smiled upon hearing this, "Thank you for the compliment. However, be more polite to me in the future."
With that, the young man turned and left.
Xue Yunlan's expression turned grim. Xue Jingyuan made her feel a sense of dread and strangeness.
Inside the carriage, Xue Zining bandaged the Empress's wound, saying apologetically, "I was a bit heavy-handed."
The Empress shook her head, "It wasn't heavy. How else would he believe us?"
"Your Majesty, no one is pursuing us," Xue Yan said, looking outside.
"Stop," Xue Zining said.
The carriage stopped. Xue Zining looked at the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, it is enough to escort you this far."
The Empress nodded, taking Xue Zining's hand, and said softly, "Take care!"
Xue Zining started, nodded, "I will. You too."
The Empress smiled, "I will. Go now!"
Xue Zining and the others alighted from the carriage and walked forward.
Xue Lan stepped forward to support the Empress, asking, "Your Majesty, shall we return?"
The Empress nodded, her gaze resolute, "Yes, we will return. Xue Guo still needs me to protect it. At least until my son returns, I must guard it well."