Chapter 279
Bai Jinzhi’s furious shout echoed from outside.
Outside the posthouse, the onlookers were filled with righteous indignation. The Bai family guards led by Bai Jinzhi and the guard troops of Li Zhijie were on the brink of clashing.
The people shouted for Li Zhijie to return the second young master of the Bai family, Bai Qingqiong, to the Jin Kingdom. Otherwise, they would kneel and beg the emperor to send troops to annihilate Xiliang.
“Our Princess of Zhen might have walked into a trap! Those cunning Xiliang people could have used the news of the second young master of the Bai family to lure the Princess of Zhen here to assassinate her!”
“Yes, it was the Princess of Zhen who frightened Yun Poxing in the recent victory over Xiliang. If the Princess of Zhen dies, Xiliang will no longer fear the Jin Kingdom! Fourth Miss, quickly take people in to rescue the Princess!”
“Such vicious Xiliang people!”
Bai Qingyan knew it was the Crown Prince who had arrived…
She had Nanny Qin arrange people at the posthouse gate to say that the Xiliang people had used the news of the second young master of the Bai family to deceive the Princess of Zhen, who might have fallen into an ambush and that Xiliang aimed to kill the Princess. If they succeeded, Xiliang would no longer fear the Jin Kingdom.
Naturally, they also arranged for people to shout, firmly believing that the Crown Prince, being a wise heir, would surely find a way to rescue the Princess of Zhen.
The bigger the commotion caused by Fourth Miss and those arranged by Nanny Qin, the better.
“The Crown Prince is wise and valiant; he will surely rescue the Princess of Zhen!”
Li Zhijie also heard the commotion outside.
“It seems the Crown Prince has arrived. I hope King Yan has figured out how to explain everything to the Crown Prince?”
Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Li Zhijie’s pupils constricted. Her innate sensitivity to danger made her sense the threat coming from behind. She instantly turned and shot an arrow…
Lu Tianzhuo, who had silently emerged from who knows where with a longsword, was almost successful in his sneak attack. However, Bai Qingyan detected it, and he was nearly pierced by her arrow.
“Lu Tianzhuo!” Li Zhijie roared through gritted teeth.
Today’s plan did not include killing Bai Qingyan. If Bai Qingyan were to die here today, it would not only provide the Jin Kingdom with a justified excuse to send troops to Xiliang, but the fierce Bai family army might also invade Yunjing to avenge Bai Qingyan.
Xiliang couldn’t afford any further chaos!
Li Zhijie feared Bai Qingyan’s capabilities in leading troops into battle, but he feared the Bai family army of the Jin Kingdom even more.
Although the Bai family army was reduced to ten thousand, one only needed to consider the prowess of the Bai family members to know how formidable they were.
If Yunjing were to fall into chaos, the entire Xiliang would follow. By then, if the Jin Kingdom invited allied states to attack Xiliang, Xiliang would be destroyed and divided, ceasing to exist.
Li Zhijie watched as Lu Tianzhuo evaded Bai Qingyan’s sword, stepping on the marble railing by the fish pond, his sword gleaming ominously, charging swiftly toward Bai Qingyan.
Li Zhijie’s eyes darkened. Ignoring his own wounds, he took hurried steps to shield Bai Qingyan in front of him, opening his iron-bone fan… The twenty-three steel fan bones struck toward Lu Tianzhuo.
Lu Tianzhuo awkwardly flipped to dodge but was still struck in the knee by one of Li Zhijie’s fan bones, causing him to kneel down on one knee, using his sword to support himself, wincing in pain.
“Lu Tianzhuo, stop!” Li Zhijie’s face darkened, half of his body stained with blood, making him look even more intimidating.
Bai Qingyan narrowed her eyes, perplexed. Why was Li Zhijie, whose person attempted to kill her, now protecting her?
Lu Tianzhuo gritted his teeth, lifting his head…
He had entered the Xiliang Imperial Palace as a eunuch, enduring humiliation for years, all for revenge. The one who beheaded his godfather was right here. His sword was poisoned; today, he must kill Bai Qingyan for revenge. Missing this chance meant he would never have another.
“My prince, I’m sorry! Today, I must take Bai Qingyan’s life. The great kindness you have shown me, I can only repay in the next life!” Lu Tianzhuo said, his hawk-like eyes locked on Bai Qingyan, charging at Bai Qingyan and Li Zhijie.
Bai Qingyan deftly drew her bow and arrow, aiming at Lu Tianzhuo, showing no fear.
Li Zhijie instinctively raised his hand to shield Bai Qingyan behind him, shouting, “Are you all dead?! Seize him for me!”
The commotion in the posthouse finally alarmed Li Tianfu.
Hearing cries, Li Tianfu arrived, seeing soldiers in Xiliang attire fighting with Lu Tianzhuo, and Li Zhijie, covered in blood, protecting the enemy Bai Qingyan.
“Stop! All of you, stop! What are you doing?!” Li Tianfu drew the guard’s sword beside her and entered the fray.
The Xiliang soldiers, recognizing Princess Li Tianfu, all halted.
Li Tianfu shielded the injured-knee Lu Tianzhuo behind her, her fury rising as she saw the blood pouring from his knee wound. “Li Zhijie, are you insane?!”
Before Li Zhijie could respond, Lu Tianzhuo grasped Li Tianfu’s shoulder, his voice hoarse. “Princess, forgive me!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Tianzhuo pushed Li Tianfu aside and raised his sword. However, before he could charge toward Bai Qingyan, the sound of an arrow slicing through the air came. Lu Tianzhuo’s throat convulsed, his mouth opening but no sound emerging. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Li Zhijie was stunned, turning to see Bai Qingyan’s hand, devoid of the arrow she had shot.
Li Tianfu, pushed to the ground, opened her eyes wide, letting out a piercing scream.
Lu Tianzhuo looked down at his wound, unable to see it. Blood gushed out, soaking his clothes.
He raised his hand to clutch the hole in his throat pierced by the arrow. Blood surged through his fingers, gurgling down his throat. He gasped for breath, falling stiffly backward.
“Lu Tianzhuo! Lu Tianzhuo!” Li Tianfu pushed away the maid helping her up, rushing over to hold the almost collapsing Lu Tianzhuo, her hands trembling as she tried to stem the bleeding. “Lu Tianzhuo! A doctor! Call a doctor!”
Lu Tianzhuo’s tear-filled eyes looked at the panicked Li Tianfu. He knew he was dying today, but he couldn’t bear to leave Li Tianfu.
Everyone said Li Tianfu was arrogant and domineering, but Lu Tianzhuo knew she was just a girl yearning for her parents’ attention. She was kind-hearted and fragile.
Her competitive nature and bravado were merely masks for her inner vulnerability and helplessness.
If not for Li Tianfu saving him back then, he feared the eunuchs in the Xiliang Imperial Palace would have beaten him to death.
He had lived for revenge all his life, thinking his future lay only in avenging his godfather. Li Tianfu was the unexpected light in his otherwise dark life.
He wasn’t afraid of dying, but he feared his death would bring sorrow to Li Tianfu.
Lu Tianzhuo’s blood-stained hand tightly gripped Li Tianfu’s hand. His eyelids fluttered, tears streamed down uncontrollably. He tried to smile at Li Tianfu, but he no longer had the strength to speak.