The wasps in the sky were clearly manipulated; otherwise, how could they conveniently separate the Crown Prince from his guards?
Taking advantage of the momentary panic of the horses, these assassins rushed out recklessly as if they had no regard for their lives. It was truly a reckless way of fighting.
The outskirts of the capital were not desolate and uninhabited. When some farmers sensed something was amiss, they dropped their hoes and ran, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Murder! Bandits are killing people!"
An assassin noticed something was wrong and was about to kill the farmer when he was intercepted by the Crown Prince's guards. After exchanging a few blows, the farmer had already vanished into thin air.
"Let's be swift and decisive," the leader of the assassins realized that the farmer might call for reinforcements, drew his knife from his waist, and led a few of his most skilled men to go after the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli, "Hold back these guards."
"Your Royal Highness!" the Eastern Palace guard fought desperately to kill one of the assassins, only to have another assassin pounce on him.
The Crown Prince's whereabouts would always be kept secret. In order to ensure his safe travel, they even arranged several teams of people who resembled the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu to ride in different directions, confusing those with ulterior motives.
However, these assassins seemed to be very familiar with the Crown Prince's movements and were determined to kill him whatever it takes.
The Crown Prince had been proficient in horse riding, archery, and swordsmanship since childhood. If he were to push Fushou Junzhu off his horse, he might escape the pursuit of the assassins. But the Crown Prince was still accompanying Fushou Junzhu, who was weak and often ill...
The guards became more and more fearful as they thought about it. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, it would implicate several generations of their clans.
Both sides unleashed their bloodthirsty nature, showcasing their utmost prowess and unleashing their most formidable skills.
"The horse that Your Royal Highness gave me is truly a divine steed," Hua Liuli tapped the Crown Prince's head, narrowly avoiding an arrow flying towards them. She dared not let the horse stop but couldn't run in the direction of the city either, so she could only hide in the dense forest.
If they were in an open area with a large number of enemies armed with bows and arrows, they would be like moving targets. It was better to take cover in the woods, where they would have some concealment, and the assassins would lose their advantage with bows and arrows.
As soon as the horse rushed into the dense forest, Hua Liuli pulled the Crown Prince down with her from its back and kicked the horse, letting it run in the opposite direction.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli tore apart her beautiful skirt and tied it around her waist, "Come with me."
Without waiting for the Crown Prince to respond, she grabbed his hand and ran.
"Try not to step on areas covered with green grass," Hua Liuli observed her surroundings. Fortunately, it wasn't midsummer, and many small grasses hadn't grown tall enough to accumulate dry leaves. She pulled the Crown Prince to take cover behind a massive tree trunk and listened carefully to discern the position of the assassins.
"They are after Gu. You must hurry and leave," the Crown Prince took out a soft sword from his waist and lowered his voice as he spoke to Hua Liuli, "Gu will be fine. Go and hide behind."
"Your Royal Highness, you are the heir to the throne, you shouldn't say such things," Hua Liuli suppressed her smile and looked at the Crown Prince with utmost seriousness, "Your Royal Highness is the future ruler, and I am a subject. Your Royal Highness's life and death are connected to the future of millions of people. As long as this humble girl is still breathing, I won't let Your Royal Highness die before me."
She untied the skirt from her waist and pulled out a soft sword from her belt, "As a subject, I shouldn't carry a weapon in front of Your Royal Highness. But outside the palace, there are always unsafe places. Please forgive me for deceiving Your Royal Highness."
The two of them stood face to face, hiding behind the tree trunk. The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, reached out his hand, and gently held hers, "If you don't want me to die, how can Gu bear to let you risk your life for Gu?"
"Your Royal Highness!" Hua Liuli grasped the Crown Prince's wrist and lowered her voice even more, "If I can safely return, I ask that Your Highness keep a secret for me."
"Alright."
"Your Highness, don't you want to know what it is?" Hua Liuli smiled and tightly held the hilt and blade of the sword together.
The Crown Prince watched her skillfully assemble the sword without asking or saying anything.
"Your Highness, don't be afraid. The maidservants of this humble girl are skilled in tracking in the dense forest and will soon find us," But she couldn't hide here because the assassins had already started searching in their direction. She had to divert their attention.
"Wait," The Crown Prince lifted the hem of his robe and casually fastened it at his waist, "How can Gu let a little girl like you handle this kind of situation? I..."
"Enough, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli pressed down on the Crown Prince, forcibly making him sit on the ground, "You have learned the sword skills of a nobleman, one that cannot be used to kill."
After saying that, she patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "Be good and wait for my return, understood?"
The Crown Prince, still unsure of how he ended up sitting on the ground, remained silent.
"Your Royal Highness, listen to me and stop causing trouble. Otherwise, we will both die here. Your Royal Highness, for me, for the people of Great Jin, I beg you, please don't come out, alright?" Hua Liuli crouched in front of the Crown Prince, gazing deeply into his eyes.
The Crown Prince's eyes reddened, "And what about you?"
He regretted it. He would rather have never developed feelings for her, never been attracted to her, than let her fall into such danger.
"Your Royal Highness, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli smiled and said, "I am surnamed Hua, a member of the Hua family. It is the ancestral slogan of the Hua family to serve the ruler and protect the people. I don't want to be someone disloyal and unfilial. I ask Your Royal Highness to grant me this."
The Crown Prince's hand trembled and he didn't say anything.
"Please grant me this," Hua Liuli smiled and said, "If Your Royal Highness refuses, I can only atone with my life."
"Alright," The Crown Prince's voice choked, and for the first time, he touched Hua Liuli's cheek without any hesitation, "Gu will wait for your return. You must come back."
"Understood, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli curved her lips and smiled at the Crown Prince, then ran out quickly.
The Crown Prince had never seen Hua Liuli run like this before. He watched her hurriedly retreating figure, covered his slightly aching chest, and struggled to suppress the urge to follow her.
He repeatedly reminded himself that if he rushed out now, all of Liuli's efforts would be in vain.
Liuli was able to capture Prince A'Wa alive in the Jinpo military camp. She couldn't be as weak as she appeared on ordinary days.
During the time when Father Emperor was the Crown Prince, General Hua and General Wei protected him.
And now, it's General Hua and General Wei's daughter who's protecting him.
Although he was the Crown Prince, he was also human. It was too difficult to let reason overcome emotions. Within a few moments, the Crown Prince had bitten his lips until they bled.
He lay on the ground, ignoring the dirt, wanting only to hear the sound of Hua Liuli's departing footsteps. At least that would bring him some peace of mind.
Once the assassins saw the Crown Prince riding into the dense forest, they became cautious. The leader tightened his grip on the sword hilt and carefully led the way forward.
"Leader, there's someone crying," One assassin with exceptional hearing said, "It sounds like the crying of a young lady."
These assassins were well-trained death warriors. They proceeded with extreme caution, inching closer to the source of the sound. They discovered a fair-skinned girl hiding in the bushes, covering her mouth and crying in fear. When she saw them, the girl was so frightened that she couldn't even speak. She used her hands to push herself backward, tears continuously streaming down, appearing pitiful.
Noticing that her legs were unnaturally bent, the leader lifted the girl's chin with his sword. Her tears dripped onto the blade, trembling like chaff.
"Are you the Junzhu who was with the Crown Prince?" The leader, who wore a mask, spoke disdainfully, "The Crown Prince abandoned you to save his own life?"
The girl continued to tremble, her white teeth chattering. After a long while, she tremblingly said, "Please don't kill me..."
Her voice was gentle and delicate, like a helpless little kitten. Besides begging for mercy, she had no other means.
The leader of the assassins looked expressionless at this girl who had been abandoned by the Crown Prince, "Tell us, in which direction did the Crown Prince escape?"
The girl cried but remained silent.
Impatiently, the leader lifted her up from the ground and squeezed her throat, "If you don't speak, I'll have them strip your clothes off and let you die without dignity."
"No... Please..." A few hot tears fell on the back of the leader's hand as the girl looked at him with tear-filled eyes, "I beg you, please."
The leader glanced at the tears on his hand and threw her back onto the ground, "Then speak quickly."
Trembling, the girl pointed in a direction.
"I thought the daughter of the two generals would have more backbone than others, but it seems not," The leader snorted disdainfully, wiped away the tears on his hand with a handkerchief, and turned to walk in the direction indicated by the girl.
"Leader, what should we do with this girl?" one of the assassins asked.
"Kill her," the leader replied without looking back, "Leave her body intact."
As soon as the words fell, he heard the sound of a head hitting the ground, and the smell of blood filled the air.
No, this scent, it's not just one person's blood.
He abruptly turned around and saw a silver light slashing toward him. He quickly raised his sword to block, but the opponent's movements were fast and ruthless. Unable to land a hit, the opponent kicked him in the chest.
The leader saw that several of his followers who had come with him were now lying on the ground silently. His eyes turned cold as he said, "What a timid and frail Fushou Junzhu. You deceived everyone in the capital."
"Do not expose your back to the enemy, that is an age-old principle in the martial world," Hua Liuli attacked mercilessly, "I have to thank you for giving me this opportunity."
The leader had spilled countless lives with his hands, so he faced Hua Liuli without showing any weakness. Unlike the thugs Hua Liuli had encountered before, this leader was clearly an unflinching death warrior.
Not swayed by beauty or personal gain, the only mistake he made this time was underestimating his opponent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have found a chance to kill the others.
"Unfortunately, Junzhu, as beautiful as you are, you will ultimately die by my sword," The leader's blade swept across Hua Liuli's neck, but she quickly dodged, allowing his blade to graze her arm.
Hua Liuli took a few steps back, leaning against a tree trunk, and gasped for breath. She switched the sword to her other hand, her face expressionless as she said, "Life and death are predetermined, but as long as I'm here today, none of you can take the Crown Prince's life."
"Your Hua family has hundreds of thousands of troops. Why risk your lives to protect a ruler who may suspect you at any moment?" The leader didn't give Hua Liuli a chance to rest, continuing to aim his sword at her vital points, "Why not seek a new master?"
"Ridiculous. The current emperor is the rightful ruler. There's no need to seek another," Hua Liuli quickly evaded several strikes. Suddenly a sharp sound rang out. She tilted her head as an arrow grazed her cheek.
It nearly ruined her face!
Anyone who would dare to ruin her dream of being a delicate beauty would become her greatest enemy.
The leader realized that Hua Liuli had suddenly gone mad. Every move she made was at full strength. In his momentary negligence, she managed to slash his chest with her sword.
Taking advantage of her victory, Hua Liuli pursued relentlessly. She cleaved the arrow flying towards her with a sword and turned around, causing the leader to impale her shoulder with his sword.
Chi.
It was the sound of a blade piercing flesh.
The leader couldn't believe it as he lowered his head, looking at the dagger embedded in his heart. It seemed unimaginable that he would meet his demise at the hands of a fifteen-year-old girl.
Hua Liuli pulled out the dagger and kicked him away, clutching her bleeding shoulder, "I thought a death warrior like you would be more skilled, but it seems not."
The leader widened his eyes, looking at the green branches overhead, and unwillingly took his last breath.
"Leader!" Two assassins who arrived on the scene rushed towards Hua Liuli.
"Go!" The Crown Prince ran over quickly, throwing the sword in his hand, which happened to strike the assassin at the forefront in the throat. He grabbed Hua Liuli and turned to flee.
"Your Royal Highness! Didn't I tell you to hide properly?!"
"Gu, indeed, promised you, but Gu's feet didn't agree," The Crown Prince, who was usually meticulous to the extreme, spoke in such a manner. He pulled Hua Liuli along as they ran through the woods, with a group of assassins in pursuit.
"Your Royal Highness, I'm injured and can't run much farther," Hua Liuli's face turned pale due to excessive blood loss, "Your Royal Highness should go on, I'll hold them off."
"Gu would love to listen to you, but Gu's hands and feet disagree," The Crown Prince took the blood-stained sword from Hua Liuli's hand. Despite his aversion to dirt, he firmly grasped her bloodied hand, "Who said Gu only practiced the sword of a gentleman? General Hua, after all, was once my teacher."
After saying that, the Crown Prince dashed toward the assassins with grace and elegance.
But he returned soon, holding the sword, and pulled Hua Liuli to continue their escape.
"Gu thinks you made a valid point. When we return, Gu will definitely practice the sword diligently," The Crown Prince ran while throwing sleeve arrows and smoke bombs at the assassins, managing to delay their pursuit for a moment.
"Sigh," the Crown Prince looked at the steep slope ahead and the killers chasing them with murderous intent. He smiled bitterly, "Liuli, it seems that we might not share the same birthdate but we might share the same date of death."
Hua Liuli grabbed the sword from the Crown Prince's hand, her lips turning pale, "If Your Royal Highness had stayed hidden and didn't come out, Your Royal Highness wouldn't have to die on the same day as me."
"Gu knows, but..."
But I can't bear it.
"Your Royal Highness!" The guards from the Eastern Palace and Hua Liuli's maidservants heard the sound of the smoke bomb exploding and finally found their way over. Embarrassingly, the maidservants from the Hua family even rushed ahead.
"It seems we don't have to die," Hua Liuli breathed a sigh of relief. She felt cold all over, suffering from severe blood loss, and was starting to struggle.
At that moment, a sleeve arrow flew over. Hua Liuli, slow to react due to her severe injuries, swayed and pulled the Crown Prince to the side, avoiding it by a hair's breadth.
The Crown Prince slipped under his feet and was about to fall down the steep slope.
Hua Liuli instinctively reached out to grab him but forgot that her own arm was injured and she couldn't exert any strength. So she ended up falling down together with the Crown Prince.
In a hazy state of consciousness, she felt a warm hand protecting the back of her head.
If only the Crown Prince hadn't come out just now, at least he would be safe.
Even if Hua Liuli had only one breath left today, she would protect the Crown Prince with her all.
If she were to entrust the future of Great Jin to any of the other four princes, who could feel at ease?
She bit her tongue to keep herself conscious. She opened her eyes and looked at the Crown Prince tightly embracing her in his arms. With great effort, she reached out her hand, summoning the last bit of strength she had, and protected the Crown Prince's head and face.
This person must not die.
This person's face must not be destroyed.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Crown Prince: In gratitude for saving my life, I offer myself to you! Liuli, I want to marry you!
Hua Liuli: I told you to stay put, but you never listen! Mischievous children are often indulged by their parents.
The wasps in the sky were clearly manipulated; otherwise, how could they conveniently separate the Crown Prince from his guards?
Taking advantage of the momentary panic of the horses, these assassins rushed out recklessly as if they had no regard for their lives. It was truly a reckless way of fighting.
The outskirts of the capital were not desolate and uninhabited. When some farmers sensed something was amiss, they dropped their hoes and ran, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Murder! Bandits are killing people!"
An assassin noticed something was wrong and was about to kill the farmer when he was intercepted by the Crown Prince's guards. After exchanging a few blows, the farmer had already vanished into thin air.
"Let's be swift and decisive," the leader of the assassins realized that the farmer might call for reinforcements, drew his knife from his waist, and led a few of his most skilled men to go after the Crown Prince and Hua Liuli, "Hold back these guards."
"Your Royal Highness!" the Eastern Palace guard fought desperately to kill one of the assassins, only to have another assassin pounce on him.
The Crown Prince's whereabouts would always be kept secret. In order to ensure his safe travel, they even arranged several teams of people who resembled the Crown Prince and Fushou Junzhu to ride in different directions, confusing those with ulterior motives.
However, these assassins seemed to be very familiar with the Crown Prince's movements and were determined to kill him whatever it takes.
The Crown Prince had been proficient in horse riding, archery, and swordsmanship since childhood. If he were to push Fushou Junzhu off his horse, he might escape the pursuit of the assassins. But the Crown Prince was still accompanying Fushou Junzhu, who was weak and often ill...
The guards became more and more fearful as they thought about it. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, it would implicate several generations of their clans.
Both sides unleashed their bloodthirsty nature, showcasing their utmost prowess and unleashing their most formidable skills.
"The horse that Your Royal Highness gave me is truly a divine steed," Hua Liuli tapped the Crown Prince's head, narrowly avoiding an arrow flying towards them. She dared not let the horse stop but couldn't run in the direction of the city either, so she could only hide in the dense forest.
If they were in an open area with a large number of enemies armed with bows and arrows, they would be like moving targets. It was better to take cover in the woods, where they would have some concealment, and the assassins would lose their advantage with bows and arrows.
As soon as the horse rushed into the dense forest, Hua Liuli pulled the Crown Prince down with her from its back and kicked the horse, letting it run in the opposite direction.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli tore apart her beautiful skirt and tied it around her waist, "Come with me."
Without waiting for the Crown Prince to respond, she grabbed his hand and ran.
"Try not to step on areas covered with green grass," Hua Liuli observed her surroundings. Fortunately, it wasn't midsummer, and many small grasses hadn't grown tall enough to accumulate dry leaves. She pulled the Crown Prince to take cover behind a massive tree trunk and listened carefully to discern the position of the assassins.
"They are after Gu. You must hurry and leave," the Crown Prince took out a soft sword from his waist and lowered his voice as he spoke to Hua Liuli, "Gu will be fine. Go and hide behind."
"Your Royal Highness, you are the heir to the throne, you shouldn't say such things," Hua Liuli suppressed her smile and looked at the Crown Prince with utmost seriousness, "Your Royal Highness is the future ruler, and I am a subject. Your Royal Highness's life and death are connected to the future of millions of people. As long as this humble girl is still breathing, I won't let Your Royal Highness die before me."
She untied the skirt from her waist and pulled out a soft sword from her belt, "As a subject, I shouldn't carry a weapon in front of Your Royal Highness. But outside the palace, there are always unsafe places. Please forgive me for deceiving Your Royal Highness."
The two of them stood face to face, hiding behind the tree trunk. The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli, reached out his hand, and gently held hers, "If you don't want me to die, how can Gu bear to let you risk your life for Gu?"
"Your Royal Highness!" Hua Liuli grasped the Crown Prince's wrist and lowered her voice even more, "If I can safely return, I ask that Your Highness keep a secret for me."
"Alright."
"Your Highness, don't you want to know what it is?" Hua Liuli smiled and tightly held the hilt and blade of the sword together.
The Crown Prince watched her skillfully assemble the sword without asking or saying anything.
"Your Highness, don't be afraid. The maidservants of this humble girl are skilled in tracking in the dense forest and will soon find us," But she couldn't hide here because the assassins had already started searching in their direction. She had to divert their attention.
"Wait," The Crown Prince lifted the hem of his robe and casually fastened it at his waist, "How can Gu let a little girl like you handle this kind of situation? I..."
"Enough, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli pressed down on the Crown Prince, forcibly making him sit on the ground, "You have learned the sword skills of a nobleman, one that cannot be used to kill."
After saying that, she patted the Crown Prince's shoulder, "Be good and wait for my return, understood?"
The Crown Prince, still unsure of how he ended up sitting on the ground, remained silent.
"Your Royal Highness, listen to me and stop causing trouble. Otherwise, we will both die here. Your Royal Highness, for me, for the people of Great Jin, I beg you, please don't come out, alright?" Hua Liuli crouched in front of the Crown Prince, gazing deeply into his eyes.
The Crown Prince's eyes reddened, "And what about you?"
He regretted it. He would rather have never developed feelings for her, never been attracted to her, than let her fall into such danger.
"Your Royal Highness, have you forgotten?" Hua Liuli smiled and said, "I am surnamed Hua, a member of the Hua family. It is the ancestral slogan of the Hua family to serve the ruler and protect the people. I don't want to be someone disloyal and unfilial. I ask Your Royal Highness to grant me this."
The Crown Prince's hand trembled and he didn't say anything.
"Please grant me this," Hua Liuli smiled and said, "If Your Royal Highness refuses, I can only atone with my life."
"Alright," The Crown Prince's voice choked, and for the first time, he touched Hua Liuli's cheek without any hesitation, "Gu will wait for your return. You must come back."
"Understood, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli curved her lips and smiled at the Crown Prince, then ran out quickly.
The Crown Prince had never seen Hua Liuli run like this before. He watched her hurriedly retreating figure, covered his slightly aching chest, and struggled to suppress the urge to follow her.
He repeatedly reminded himself that if he rushed out now, all of Liuli's efforts would be in vain.
Liuli was able to capture Prince A'Wa alive in the Jinpo military camp. She couldn't be as weak as she appeared on ordinary days.
During the time when Father Emperor was the Crown Prince, General Hua and General Wei protected him.
And now, it's General Hua and General Wei's daughter who's protecting him.
Although he was the Crown Prince, he was also human. It was too difficult to let reason overcome emotions. Within a few moments, the Crown Prince had bitten his lips until they bled.
He lay on the ground, ignoring the dirt, wanting only to hear the sound of Hua Liuli's departing footsteps. At least that would bring him some peace of mind.
Once the assassins saw the Crown Prince riding into the dense forest, they became cautious. The leader tightened his grip on the sword hilt and carefully led the way forward.
"Leader, there's someone crying," One assassin with exceptional hearing said, "It sounds like the crying of a young lady."
These assassins were well-trained death warriors. They proceeded with extreme caution, inching closer to the source of the sound. They discovered a fair-skinned girl hiding in the bushes, covering her mouth and crying in fear. When she saw them, the girl was so frightened that she couldn't even speak. She used her hands to push herself backward, tears continuously streaming down, appearing pitiful.
Noticing that her legs were unnaturally bent, the leader lifted the girl's chin with his sword. Her tears dripped onto the blade, trembling like chaff.
"Are you the Junzhu who was with the Crown Prince?" The leader, who wore a mask, spoke disdainfully, "The Crown Prince abandoned you to save his own life?"
The girl continued to tremble, her white teeth chattering. After a long while, she tremblingly said, "Please don't kill me..."
Her voice was gentle and delicate, like a helpless little kitten. Besides begging for mercy, she had no other means.
The leader of the assassins looked expressionless at this girl who had been abandoned by the Crown Prince, "Tell us, in which direction did the Crown Prince escape?"
The girl cried but remained silent.
Impatiently, the leader lifted her up from the ground and squeezed her throat, "If you don't speak, I'll have them strip your clothes off and let you die without dignity."
"No... Please..." A few hot tears fell on the back of the leader's hand as the girl looked at him with tear-filled eyes, "I beg you, please."
The leader glanced at the tears on his hand and threw her back onto the ground, "Then speak quickly."
Trembling, the girl pointed in a direction.
"I thought the daughter of the two generals would have more backbone than others, but it seems not," The leader snorted disdainfully, wiped away the tears on his hand with a handkerchief, and turned to walk in the direction indicated by the girl.
"Leader, what should we do with this girl?" one of the assassins asked.
"Kill her," the leader replied without looking back, "Leave her body intact."
As soon as the words fell, he heard the sound of a head hitting the ground, and the smell of blood filled the air.
No, this scent, it's not just one person's blood.
He abruptly turned around and saw a silver light slashing toward him. He quickly raised his sword to block, but the opponent's movements were fast and ruthless. Unable to land a hit, the opponent kicked him in the chest.
The leader saw that several of his followers who had come with him were now lying on the ground silently. His eyes turned cold as he said, "What a timid and frail Fushou Junzhu. You deceived everyone in the capital."
"Do not expose your back to the enemy, that is an age-old principle in the martial world," Hua Liuli attacked mercilessly, "I have to thank you for giving me this opportunity."
The leader had spilled countless lives with his hands, so he faced Hua Liuli without showing any weakness. Unlike the thugs Hua Liuli had encountered before, this leader was clearly an unflinching death warrior.
Not swayed by beauty or personal gain, the only mistake he made this time was underestimating his opponent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have found a chance to kill the others.
"Unfortunately, Junzhu, as beautiful as you are, you will ultimately die by my sword," The leader's blade swept across Hua Liuli's neck, but she quickly dodged, allowing his blade to graze her arm.
Hua Liuli took a few steps back, leaning against a tree trunk, and gasped for breath. She switched the sword to her other hand, her face expressionless as she said, "Life and death are predetermined, but as long as I'm here today, none of you can take the Crown Prince's life."
"Your Hua family has hundreds of thousands of troops. Why risk your lives to protect a ruler who may suspect you at any moment?" The leader didn't give Hua Liuli a chance to rest, continuing to aim his sword at her vital points, "Why not seek a new master?"
"Ridiculous. The current emperor is the rightful ruler. There's no need to seek another," Hua Liuli quickly evaded several strikes. Suddenly a sharp sound rang out. She tilted her head as an arrow grazed her cheek.
It nearly ruined her face!
Anyone who would dare to ruin her dream of being a delicate beauty would become her greatest enemy.
The leader realized that Hua Liuli had suddenly gone mad. Every move she made was at full strength. In his momentary negligence, she managed to slash his chest with her sword.
Taking advantage of her victory, Hua Liuli pursued relentlessly. She cleaved the arrow flying towards her with a sword and turned around, causing the leader to impale her shoulder with his sword.
Chi.
It was the sound of a blade piercing flesh.
The leader couldn't believe it as he lowered his head, looking at the dagger embedded in his heart. It seemed unimaginable that he would meet his demise at the hands of a fifteen-year-old girl.
Hua Liuli pulled out the dagger and kicked him away, clutching her bleeding shoulder, "I thought a death warrior like you would be more skilled, but it seems not."
The leader widened his eyes, looking at the green branches overhead, and unwillingly took his last breath.
"Leader!" Two assassins who arrived on the scene rushed towards Hua Liuli.
"Go!" The Crown Prince ran over quickly, throwing the sword in his hand, which happened to strike the assassin at the forefront in the throat. He grabbed Hua Liuli and turned to flee.
"Your Royal Highness! Didn't I tell you to hide properly?!"
"Gu, indeed, promised you, but Gu's feet didn't agree," The Crown Prince, who was usually meticulous to the extreme, spoke in such a manner. He pulled Hua Liuli along as they ran through the woods, with a group of assassins in pursuit.
"Your Royal Highness, I'm injured and can't run much farther," Hua Liuli's face turned pale due to excessive blood loss, "Your Royal Highness should go on, I'll hold them off."
"Gu would love to listen to you, but Gu's hands and feet disagree," The Crown Prince took the blood-stained sword from Hua Liuli's hand. Despite his aversion to dirt, he firmly grasped her bloodied hand, "Who said Gu only practiced the sword of a gentleman? General Hua, after all, was once my teacher."
After saying that, the Crown Prince dashed toward the assassins with grace and elegance.
But he returned soon, holding the sword, and pulled Hua Liuli to continue their escape.
"Gu thinks you made a valid point. When we return, Gu will definitely practice the sword diligently," The Crown Prince ran while throwing sleeve arrows and smoke bombs at the assassins, managing to delay their pursuit for a moment.
"Sigh," the Crown Prince looked at the steep slope ahead and the killers chasing them with murderous intent. He smiled bitterly, "Liuli, it seems that we might not share the same birthdate but we might share the same date of death."
Hua Liuli grabbed the sword from the Crown Prince's hand, her lips turning pale, "If Your Royal Highness had stayed hidden and didn't come out, Your Royal Highness wouldn't have to die on the same day as me."
"Gu knows, but..."
But I can't bear it.
"Your Royal Highness!" The guards from the Eastern Palace and Hua Liuli's maidservants heard the sound of the smoke bomb exploding and finally found their way over. Embarrassingly, the maidservants from the Hua family even rushed ahead.
"It seems we don't have to die," Hua Liuli breathed a sigh of relief. She felt cold all over, suffering from severe blood loss, and was starting to struggle.
At that moment, a sleeve arrow flew over. Hua Liuli, slow to react due to her severe injuries, swayed and pulled the Crown Prince to the side, avoiding it by a hair's breadth.
The Crown Prince slipped under his feet and was about to fall down the steep slope.
Hua Liuli instinctively reached out to grab him but forgot that her own arm was injured and she couldn't exert any strength. So she ended up falling down together with the Crown Prince.
In a hazy state of consciousness, she felt a warm hand protecting the back of her head.
If only the Crown Prince hadn't come out just now, at least he would be safe.
Even if Hua Liuli had only one breath left today, she would protect the Crown Prince with her all.
If she were to entrust the future of Great Jin to any of the other four princes, who could feel at ease?
She bit her tongue to keep herself conscious. She opened her eyes and looked at the Crown Prince tightly embracing her in his arms. With great effort, she reached out her hand, summoning the last bit of strength she had, and protected the Crown Prince's head and face.
This person must not die.
This person's face must not be destroyed.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Crown Prince: In gratitude for saving my life, I offer myself to you! Liuli, I want to marry you!
Hua Liuli: I told you to stay put, but you never listen! Mischievous children are often indulged by their parents.
