Chapter 117: Escape

Quan Quan Tianchen's heart sank; he tightened his grip on the reins, his gaze sweeping rapidly between the cliff and the pursuers, searching for any possible chance of survival.

The sound of hoofbeats behind grew closer; the enemy was now within arm's reach. Quan Quan Tianchen reined in his horse, which let out a long neigh and stopped.

"Chen'er, we... cannot return." The Empress, who had been silent the entire way, spoke. Her voice was weak, yet not a single tremor betrayed her; even at this life-or-death moment, she refused to show weakness in the slightest.

Quan Quan Tianchen looked at the Empress, then at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin in his arms, whose face was devoid of all color, then turned back to the black-clad figures closing in; his eyes were resolute:

"Mother, do not fear. As long as your son has one breath left, I will surely protect you both."

Yet the black-clad figures arrived in an instant; their leader sneered:

"Your Imperial Highness the Empress, Prince Chenwangdian, Lady Lady Qingping... tsk tsk tsk... where do you think you are running to?"

No sooner had the words left his lips than the black-clad figures lunged at the group.

The group drew their swords to meet the attack, shielding the Empress behind them.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin drew a dagger, but her strength had long been exhausted; her movements were half a beat too slow. The sword blade grazed her shoulder, and blood instantly stained her sleeve. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin let out a muffled groan, her body stumbled, yet she forced herself to steady her footing.

The Empress gazed at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's back, a complex surge of emotion rising within her. This woman, whom she had met for the first time today, appeared no older than a child, yet possessed a resilience and courage surpassing that of ordinary people. Imprisoned for five years, fleeing for her life all day today without even a chance to speak, she knew nothing of the events unfolding in the court, nor who this woman named Jun Jun Zijin, called Lady Lady Qingping, might be; yet she could be certain this woman was far from an ordinary noble lady, possessing extraordinary wisdom and boldness. She had witnessed with her own eyes how Jun Jun Zijin, to protect a stranger like herself, feared neither life nor death, and to safeguard her own shadow guards, had exerted every ounce of her strength. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin still stepping forward at this life-or-death moment, the Empress could not help but feel a measure of admiration.

"Jun Jun Zijin!" Quan Quan Tianchen's voice rang out, filled with urgency and fury. He wanted to rush forward, but was blocked by more black-clad figures, unable to break free.

At that moment, the blade of a black-clad figure pointed directly at the Empress. Though she was the mother of a nation, she now had no power to defend herself, forced to watch helplessly as the sword tip drew near.

"Mother!" Quan Quan Tianchen's shout exploded, yet he had no time to attend to it.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's pupils suddenly contracted; her body moved faster than her thoughts. With almost her last ounce of strength, she instinctively threw herself toward the Empress. She barely raised the dagger in her hand, attempting to block that fatal strike, but her movements were sluggish due to weakness; the sword blade was already within inches.

"Shhh—" A faint sound rang out; the sound of the sword tip piercing flesh was exceptionally clear. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's body shudder as the blade plunged into her left shoulder; blood slowly flowed down the blade, staining her robes red.

"Master!" Feiyan and Guazi cried out in shock.

"Jun Jun Zijin!" Quan Quan Tianchen's voice carried a tearing agony; he suddenly swung his sword, forcing several black-clad figures back, then turned and rushed toward Seeing Jun Jun Zijin.

Yet the black-clad figures gave him no chance to catch his breath; dozens of sword lights attacked again, forcing them unable to withdraw.

The Empress wanted to support Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, who was about to fall, but the Empress herself was extremely weak, barely able to stand steadily; she could only watch helplessly as Seeing Jun Jun Zijin collapsed to the ground.

Just then, Feiying descended from the sky, catching the body that could no longer stand. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin managed only a glance at Feiying before fainting.

Feiying's eyes turned red; he roared at the black-clad figures: "Those who harm her shall die!"

A flash of cold light; a sword thrust toward the one who had harmed her.

The black-clad figure rolled his eyes. Was that the only phrase these people repeated over and over today? With just a few of you, who could you possibly protect? A joke.

Yet in the next instant, the head of that man rolled far away. Where the sword qi reached, a large number of black-clad figures fell.

Just then, dust and smoke rolled up from the distance; the banners of the Long Hu Guard approached.

Xiao Han, commander of the Long Hu Guard, shouted: "Your Imperial Highness the Empress, your servant has arrived late; His Majesty sent your servant to rescue you."

The Long Hu Guard quickly joined the battle. Although the fighting was exceptionally fierce, the black-clad figures' encirclement was soon broken. The situation quickly reversed; countless black-clad figures were killed or wounded, and the remaining few scattered in flight.

Quan Quan Tianchen and the others, unable to catch their breath, hurried to Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's side. Seeing her lying unconscious in Feiying's arms, covered in blood, their hearts were filled with panic.

Feiying signaled Guazi to pull several bottles of pills from Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's embrace. After identifying them, he poured one into Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's mouth; the pill dissolved instantly upon contact with her tongue, and everyone felt slightly relieved. He then, on his own initiative, distributed Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's wound medicine to the others.

The Empress urged: "Quickly, return to the palace first; find the best imperial physician to treat Jun Jun Zijin."

"Your Imperial Highness the Empress, your servant has arrived late; please forgive this offense!" Xiao Han knelt, his expression respectful.

The Empress waved her hand. "No need for formalities; the Lady's injuries are severe. Return to the palace first."

On this end, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and the others, under the protection of the Long Hu Guard, successfully escaped, heading toward Jingcheng.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, the atmosphere was oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

Prime Minister Gao sat in a large armchair, his face iron-green, a flash of ruthlessness passing through his eyes. He suddenly slammed the table, roaring: "Useless! A bunch of useless things!"

Gao Yuan panted heavily, covered in blood, kneeling with his head bowed at the Prime Minister's feet.

"Adoptive father, Commander Xiao Han of the Long Hu Guard personally intervened; our men were no match for him..."

Gao Yuan raised his head; a strip of Bai Bu was wrapped around one eye, stained with blood. Gao Yuan's face was pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Adoptive father, our plot has been exposed. What shall we do?"

Imprisoning the Empress, privately manufacturing weapons, ambushing and killing members of the imperial family, hijacking military grain—each of these crimes alone warranted the punishment of confiscating the family and exterminating the clan. The Gao family would face total annihilation.

Just as Prime Minister Gao had not yet recovered his senses, another secret letter arrived. Its content contained only a few words, yet it stirred up a tremendous storm:

"Prince Yi has activated the second mechanism; the mountain cave passage has been destroyed."

Prime Minister Gao suddenly stood up, then understood. He slowly sat back down in the large armchair. The weapons workshop had already been exposed; the Third Imperial Prince's move was to divert the court's attention and protect the other part of the mountain cave. Indeed, the weapons workshop could be sacrificed, but the mountain cave where they raised their army must not be exposed; inside lay their final trump card.

However, the mastermind behind the scenes would inevitably bear responsibility. This time, the Gao family had already reached the edge of a cliff; the slightest misstep would lead to eternal damnation.

"We cannot sit idly by and wait for death!" Prime Minister Gao suddenly stood up, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, pacing back and forth in the study.

Prime Minister Gao walked to the desk, quickly wrote a secret letter, and handed it to a shadow guard:

"Immediately deliver this letter to Noble Consort Gao; you must personally hand it to her; there must be no error!"