Chapter 1785: How Naive

Zhao Yun struggled fiercely, but she was severely injured and had no strength to resist.

Li Shiqing saw this and rushed over to help.

"Slap! Slap!"

The two guards slapped Li Shiqing and sent her flying.

"Ah!"

Li Shiqing fell to the ground, feeling as if her bones were about to shatter.

"Miss Li, don't waste your energy. You're no match for me." Zhao Hao walked over and looked down at Li Shiqing.

Li Shiqing stared coldly at Zhao Hao; she knew she wasn't his match. But she would never let Zhao Yun fall into Zhao Hao's hands.

"Zhao Hao, if you dare lay a hand on her, my Master won't let you off." Li Shiqing threatened.

"Your Master? What's your Master worth? Just a useless Grand Master. I don't even consider him a threat." Zhao Hao sneered.

"You!" Li Shiqing was furious.

"Take her away." Zhao Hao waved his hand, and the two guards dragged Zhao Yun off.

"Shishi, save me!" Zhao Yun shouted loudly.

A glimmer of tears flashed in Li Shiqing's eyes; she knew she couldn't save Zhao Yun.

Zhao Hao watched Li Shiqing's expression and felt deeply satisfied. This was exactly the effect he wanted—to make Li Shiqing fear him.

"Miss Li, you've seen it yourself. Your friend is in my hands. If you behave obediently, I might consider letting her go." Zhao Hao smiled sweetly.

"Dream on." Li Shiqing roared: "I'll never let you succeed."

"Is that so? Then let's see." Zhao Hao chuckled, then turned and left.

Watching Zhao Hao's retreating back, Li Shiqing was filled with helplessness. She had no idea how to rescue her friend.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before Li Shiqing.

"Who are you?" Li Shiqing exclaimed.

The newcomer was none other than Wang Xiaochuan, who had split from Li Shiqing to search for Zhao Yun.

"It's me." Wang Xiaochuan smiled: "Are you alright?"

Seeing Wang Xiaochuan, Li Shiqing felt as if she'd seen a savior. She hurriedly said: "Wang Xiaochuan, come quickly and help me—Zhao Yun has been captured by Zhao Hao."

"What?" Wang Xiaochuan's face changed: "Are you sure?"

"I saw it with my own eyes." Li Shiqing hurriedly said: "Wang Xiaochuan, you must find a way to save Zhao Yun. I beg you."

Wang Xiaochuan frowned slightly; he knew he wasn't Zhao Hao's match. But he couldn't stand by and let Zhao Yun fall into Zhao Hao's hands. After a brief pause, he said: "Go back and alert Master Huang and the others. I'll go check the situation." Then he turned and left. Li Shiqing paused, then nodded. She knew she'd only be a hindrance here, so she immediately returned to the Han Imperial Palace to find Huang Shang and the others.

Wang Fu.

Zhao Hao sat in the hall, a smug smile on his lips.

"Your Highness, Li Shiqing has left." A guard entered to report.

"Left?" Zhao Hao raised an eyebrow: "Didn't she go to get help?"

"No." The guard shook his head: "She left alone, looking very anxious."

Zhao Hao sneered: "This foolish woman actually thinks she can rescue Zhao Yun by herself—how naive."

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Another guard asked.

"No rush." Zhao Hao's lips curled into a wicked smile: "Let's first enjoy this beauty, Zhao Yun, then slowly torment Li Shiqing—let her know the consequences of crossing me."

"Yes, Your Highness." The two guards replied in unison.

Han Imperial Palace.

Li Shiqing rushed back to the palace and found Huang Shang and the others.

"Master, something terrible has happened." Li Shiqing said anxiously: "Zhao Yun has been captured by Zhao Hao."

"What?" Huang Shang's face changed: "Are you certain?"

"I saw it with my own eyes." Li Shiqing nodded: "Zhao Yun was dragged away by Zhao Hao's men. I tried to save her, but I wasn't strong enough."

Huang Shang fell silent for a moment, then said: "Don't panic. Let's discuss a strategy."

"What's there to discuss?" Li Mingyang said impatiently: "Just storm Wang Fu and take Zhao Yun back."

"No." Huang Shang shook his head: "Zhao Hao is the Crown Prince—his status is special. We can't act rashly."

"Then what do we do?" Li Mingyang said anxiously: "Are we just going to let Zhao Yun be ruined by that bastard Zhao Hao?"

"Mingyang, calm down." Huang Shang said sternly: "We need a plan that rescues Zhao Yun without drawing the court's attention."

"Master, I have an idea." Wang Xiaochuan suddenly spoke up.

Everyone turned to Wang Xiaochuan. Huang Shang asked: "Xiaochuan, what's your idea?"

Wang Xiaochuan smiled slightly: "We can go ask someone for help."

"Who?" Huang Shang asked.

Wang Xiaochuan gave a mysterious smile: "You'll find out when the time comes." Then he turned and left. The others stared at each other, unsure what he was up to. But they didn't press him—they trusted Wang Xiaochuan. Though young, he was brilliant, his Wu Gong formidable, and he often devised unexpected solutions.

Wang Fu.

Zhao Hao was sipping wine in the hall, listening to the guards' report.

"Your Highness, Li Shiqing has returned to the Han Imperial Palace." One guard said.

"Oh?" Zhao Hao raised an eyebrow: "Didn't she go to get help?"

"No." The guard shook his head: "She came back alone, looking very anxious."

Zhao Hao sneered: "This foolish woman actually thinks she can rescue Zhao Yun by herself—how naive."

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Another guard asked.

"No rush." Zhao Hao's lips curled into a wicked smile: "Let's first enjoy this beauty, Zhao Yun, then slowly torment Li Shiqing—let her know the consequences of crossing me."

"Yes, Your Highness." The two guards replied in unison.

Just then, a guard suddenly walked in to report: "Your Highness, there is a man named Wang Xiaochuan outside requesting an audience."

"Wang Xiaochuan?" Zhao Hao frowned. "What does he want?"

"I don't know." The guard shook his head. "He didn't say."

Zhao Hao thought for a moment, then said: "Let him in." He wanted to see what Wang Xiaochuan actually wanted.

A moment later, Wang Xiaochuan was brought in. Seeing Zhao Hao, he smiled faintly and said: "Greetings, Prince Zhao."

"Wang Xiaochuan, what do you want?" Zhao Hao asked directly.