Just then, Qin Jiujiu saw a sword lunging directly at Ade from behind. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly shouted to Ade, "Ade, watch out behind you!"
But it was still a step too late. Ade slightly dodged, but was still struck by the sword. Fortunately, it wasn't her heart, but her left shoulder.
Ade paused, and the crowd surged forward again.
Queen Yue's gaze locked onto Qin Jiujiu, her eyes filled with malice.
"Go quickly!"
Ade knew she was no match. The wound was bleeding, and she was clearly losing strength, only able to hold on to fend off the current attack.
But without backup, no matter how hard she tried, she was at the end of her rope.
"Host, please complete the mission!"
It wasn't just Ade; even the system was urging her to leave this place quickly.
Qin Jiujiu glanced at Ade and turned to run. However, she overlooked Queen Yue, whose eyes were dripping with venom.
Queen Yue had appeared behind her at some point. Just as Qin Jiujiu was about to turn, she distinctly felt a sword pressing against her back. She froze, daring not to move.
A cold voice came from behind, "Don't move!"
Qin Jiujiu dared not move. Her gaze fell on Ade. Seeing the situation, Ade seemed anxious and appeared to want to rush over. However, her opponents were too many, and with the wound on her shoulder, her sword-wielding hand was already struggling.
Those people seemed unwilling to maintain this stalemate. Queen Yue suddenly spoke, "Show no mercy!"
Qin Jiujiu watched with her own eyes as Ade's chest was pierced. "Ade!" Her voice, a hoarse cry from her chest, emanated with all her might. Qin Jiujiu trembled all over, completely disregarding the sword behind her.
Ade's eyes were bloodshot. She planted the bloody sword in her hand onto the ground, preventing herself from falling. Qin Jiujiu looked at Ade, who was kneeling on one knee, her heart aching fiercely.
Ade died for Xing Ru, but she also died for herself!
Ade's eyes slowly closed. Queen Yue suddenly let out two cold laughs, "All because of you, my assassin, cultivated for many years, is dead..."
Qin Jiujiu turned her head, glaring at Queen Yue. The madwoman's face was now adorned with a smile. Seeing the expression on Qin Jiujiu's face, her smile deepened, tinged with mockery. She laughed and said, "Tell me, how should I make you pay?"
Seeing that Ade had breathed her last, the black-clothed figures calmly surrounded them. Queen Yue then withdrew her sword and commanded, "Tie her up and bring her back to me!"
Qin Jiujiu was once again taken away.
She was starved for a day and a night, and no one came to bring her food. Before she was escorted away, she clearly heard Queen Yue instructing her subordinates, "Throw Ade's body to the dogs. Remember this, those who betray me will suffer this fate!"
Qin Jiujiu had nightmares all night. When she woke up, it was already dawn.
"System, where is Yue Nansang now?"
"Yue Nansang is not in danger. She doesn't know what Queen Yue has done yet. Host, rest assured, as long as Xing Zhan doesn't attack, Yue Nansang is safe for now!"
Only Xing Ru was not safe now!
"What about Yue Beiyang?"
"Yue Beiyang went to find Yue Nansang that day and should be with her now!"
Qin Jiujiu suddenly thought of Ade, who had died tragically before her eyes. Her heart suddenly ached like being pricked by needles, so much so that she could barely breathe.
The room fell into silence until the third day.
"Xiao Ruer!" Yue Nansang's voice came from outside the door.
Qin Jiujiu was feeling weak at the moment. She opened her hazy eyes and walked laboriously to the door. Standing outside was none other than Yue Nansang, her eyes red and her body clad in mourning.
It seemed Yue Nansang had already learned of her mother's actions!
"Xiao Ruer, my mother is negotiating with your father. I heard my mother say that your father has abandoned you and is determined to attack... Now it seems your father is about to break into the palace. My mother says she's going to take you to the city wall!"
Just then, Queen Yue's voice sounded from behind Yue Nansang.
Before Yue Nansang could finish speaking, she was taken away by Queen Yue's guards. Qin Jiujiu was then escorted to the city wall.
The snow had not yet melted, and there was still snow on the city walls. Qin Jiujiu stood on the city wall, looking down. The ground below was covered in white snow.
"Host, entering Xing Ru's death node!"
So this was the scene under which Xing Ru had died! However, she had died for Yue Beiyang under Xing Zhan's sword. Qin Jiujiu looked down from the city wall; there were only Xing Zhan's troops below. She looked back; apart from Queen Yue, there was no sign of Yue Beiyang.
Qin Jiujiu composed herself. She looked down at the man in armor below, so spirited and radiant, without even a trace of sorrow on his face.
Her eyes suddenly turned red. At this moment, she seemed to truly become Xing Ru, experiencing the feelings as if she had personally gone through them.
But she still had to complete her mission, so she couldn't die now!
"Queen, you bringing me here is useless!"
Queen Yue then looked at Qin Jiujiu, her eyes clearly filled with disdain. "Then you have no choice but to die..."
She narrowed her eyes, as if chilled by the cold wind, making her appearance even more frigid.
"Ru'er, forgive your father for abandoning you for the greater good. Queen Yue has ulterior motives and wants to use you to threaten your father. But as the general of Anzhou, I cannot let down the King's trust. Now I can only abandon you!"
"All soldiers, listen to my command, attack the city!"
Upon hearing these words, Xing Zhan's morale clearly surged. Immediately, sounds of shouting erupted.
Queen Yue's malice intensified. She looked at Xing Ru and suddenly moved behind her.
Xing Ru's hands were tied behind her back, rendering her unable to move. Queen Yue stood behind her, her hand resting on her shoulder. With a gentle push, Qin Jiujiu's body would fall straight down like a kite with a broken string.
"Xing Zhan, look at who is on the city wall!"
Xing Zhan looked up at Qin Jiujiu. The emotions in his eyes were complex, and Qin Jiujiu could not understand them.
Queen Yue's head moved close to Qin Jiujiu. "Won't you beg your father for mercy?"
Her voice was seductive, as if trying to drag her into hell. Qin Jiujiu couldn't help but flinch her neck.
"I've told you, capturing me is useless..."
As if to confirm Qin Jiujiu's words, Xing Zhan's men showed no signs of stopping, and their assault became even more fierce.
Soon, the city gate was breached, and Xing Zhan rode his horse through the gate.
Queen Yue's gaze was like venom. Her hand clutched Xing Ru's throat. The surrounding guards became vigilant, looking towards the passage leading to the city wall.
A person appeared at the entrance of the passage, but it was not Xing Zhan.
"Your Highness, the Second Prince!"