Xue Zining followed Han Huang from a distance until there were no people around, leaving only Han Huang and his guards.
At this time, Han Xixia also rode over, nodded slightly at her, and went towards Han Huang.
"Father Emperor," Han Xixia came before Han Huang.
Han Huang glanced at the prey on Han Xixia's horse and smiled, "Seventh Prince, your prey is still more."
Han Xixia said, "Father Emperor praises me, Father Emperor's sword is still sharp."
"Look, there is a stag, I want to shoot it." Han Huang's eyes lit up, and he spurred his horse to chase after it.
The guards behind Han Huang were about to follow, but Han Xixia suddenly spoke, "Lord Zhang, this prince lost his hairpin while hunting. Take a few men and look for it for me."
Lord Zhang was stunned and said, "Your Highness, after the hunt, this subordinate will send someone to look for it for Your Highness."
"Go and look for it for me now!" Han Xixia said.
Lord Zhang's gaze paused slightly, "Your Highness, this subordinate needs to protect His Majesty's safety."
"Does Lord Zhang think this prince cannot protect his Father Emperor's safety here?"
"This subordinate dares not!" Lord Zhang said quickly.
"Aren't you going yet?" Han Xixia's gaze was somewhat cold.
Lord Zhang left with two men.
There were four guards remaining.
Han Xixia chased in the direction Han Huang had gone.
Xue Zining followed slowly. Besides the seven visible guards led by Lord Zhang, there were also four hidden guards around Han Huang.
Now there were four visible guards and four hidden guards.
She and Han Xixia had to deal with eight people, which was indeed difficult.
"Ah..."
There seemed to be a woman's voice ahead.
Xue Zining urged her horse forward and saw a delicate woman lying there from afar, with the injured stag beneath her.
Upon closer inspection, Xue Zining saw the woman's tear-stained face, looking pitiful.
The guards beside Han Huang dismounted and walked forward, saying, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
The woman looked up, her eyes clear as water, and looked at Han Huang pitifully, "This humble servant is a slave from the Ninth Prince's mansion."
Han Huang frowned upon hearing this, "Someone from the Ninth Prince's mansion?"
The woman nodded, covering her foot, which was scratched by an arrow, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, the woman bit her lower lip. Her already beautiful face, due to her pitiful appearance, gained a touch of charm.
Han Huang's gaze flickered, and he suddenly extended his hand towards the woman, saying, "Since I injured you, I will take you back."
The woman's face turned slightly red, "How dare this humble servant trouble Your Majesty?"
"Hahaha..." Han Huang laughed and bent down to take the woman's hand.
The woman shyly extended her hand, and suddenly a flying dart flew out from her sleeve, aiming directly at Han Huang's brow.
Han Huang was startled and leaned back, the dart whizzing past his eyes.
"Dog Emperor, die!" The woman suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed at Han Huang.
Han Huang was greatly alarmed. The guards beside him were startled by the woman's sudden action. They quickly reacted and shouted, "Protect the Emperor, protect the Emperor!"
Just as the woman's dagger was about to stab Han Huang in the chest, a figure appeared in front of Han Huang and thrust a sword towards the woman. The woman's gaze paused, but it was too late. She saw the sword about to enter her body.
At this moment, she felt a force pull her backward, dodging the sword.
She turned back to look and was stunned. This person looked somewhat familiar.
"Protect the Emperor!" The guards had a headache. One assassin was enough, and now another appeared?
This assassin, who appeared out of nowhere, had some skill. The guards felt it difficult to resist, and soon two guards were forced to retreat repeatedly.
Seeing this, Han Xixia rode to Han Huang's side and said, "Father Emperor, come with me."
Han Huang watched the guards being pushed back, nodded, and said, "Let's go back."
After injuring two guards, Xue Zining blew a whistle and was about to mount her horse. A voice came from behind her, "Girl, could you take Liu'er with you?"
Liu'er? Xue Zining was stunned. She turned to look at the woman and realized upon closer inspection that it was indeed a familiar face. Yesterday, she claimed to be Han Xiwen's concubine, and now she was an assassin?
Liu'er smiled and gracefully walked up to her, saying, "His Highness knew that you were going to do this, so he specifically asked Liu'er to assist you."
Xue Zining's gaze paused slightly, and she said, "Do you know that if this fails, perhaps..."
Liu'er interrupted her, "Liu'er is already a dead person. If it weren't for His Highness saving me back then, Liu'er would have been underground for many years. Liu'er wants to repay His Highness's kindness."
"No regrets?" Xue Zining asked.
"No regrets," Liu'er said.
"Alright, get on the horse." Xue Zining extended her hand, and Liu'er mounted the horse, sitting behind her, and rode in the direction Han Huang had left.
Han Huang would never have guessed that the one trying to kill him now was his most favored seventh prince.
"Seventh Prince, why?" Han Huang did not understand.
Han Xixia glanced at Han Huang and said coldly, "Father Emperor, you have been in this position for too long. It is time for this prince to sit there."
"Seventh Prince, if you want the throne, Father Emperor can abdicate to you. Why must you bear the stigma of patricide?" Han Huang persuaded him earnestly.
"Can Father Emperor give me the throne?" Han Xixia asked.
"Why not?" Han Huang said.
"Will Father Emperor issue an edict now?" Han Xixia looked at Han Huang.
Han Huang's gaze paused slightly. This imperial edict was his last chance to survive. It could not be written lightly, otherwise, he would die even faster.
He never believed in father-son affection, and moreover, his throne was obtained through fratricide.
"Are the hidden guards present?" Han Huang said in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, your subordinate is here." The four hidden guards all appeared.
Han Xixia looked at the four hidden guards. The four visible guards had already been injured by him. Now, he only needed to deal with these four hidden guards.
"Kill them without mercy," Han Huang gritted his teeth.
Han Xixia's gaze turned cold, and he began to fight with the hidden guards.
Although Han Xixia was a seasoned warrior, the hidden guards knew people's weaknesses. The battle was ongoing, and the outcome was unclear. Moreover, with four people against one, Han Xixia felt he was at a disadvantage.
When Xue Zining and Liu'er arrived, Han Xixia was already wounded.
Liu'er dismounted and moved towards Han Xixia, saying, "Liu'er will help the Seventh Prince."
Xue Zining looked up at Han Huang. She dismounted and walked step by step towards Han Huang.
Han Huang also felt someone approaching him and looked up at the person coming towards him.
The girl was masked, but her eyes were too clear. With such eyes, he could not think of anyone else.
"You are..."
The girl removed her veil and said word by word, "Xue Zining."
Han Huang frowned and said coldly, "You are from Huang Ze. Why are you interfering in the affairs of Han Country?"
"Han Huang, you have sat in this position for too long. It is time for someone else to take over," the girl said word by word, her lips parting slightly.